This page is for those trying to understand who must arrange and pay for remedial works identified during a Fire Risk Assessment.
Responsibility is a frequent point of confusion, especially in multi-occupancy buildings.
The starting point
Fire safety duties normally sit with the Responsible Person.
Depending on the building, this may be:
- the landlord
- a managing agent
- a freeholder
- an employer
- a facilities management organisation
Where complexity arises
Responsibility can vary depending on:
- lease arrangements
- ownership boundaries
- who controls the area
- contractual obligations
For example, flat entrance doors, communal doors and service riser doors may fall under different arrangements.
What inspectors usually expect
Assessors are generally less concerned with internal disputes and more concerned that:
✔ someone is clearly accountable
✔ actions are progressing
✔ defects are not ignored
Uncertainty itself can become a finding.
How responsibility is normally demonstrated
Buildings often evidence control through:
- written allocation of duties
- maintenance contracts
- repair programmes
- communication with residents or tenants
What if responsibility is shared?
Where more than one party is involved, cooperation is typically expected.
Delays caused by disagreement rarely satisfy inspectors.
