How Much Does a Fire Risk Assessment Cost in Leicester?
Most Leicester fire risk assessments cost between £200 and £500. A small shop or office starts at around £200, a 3 to 5 bed HMO at £250, and the common parts of a low-rise block at £300. Care homes and larger sites cost more. Below is what moves the price, with worked examples from typical Leicester buildings.
Typical prices from local assessors, updated September 2026. Your quote depends on the building.
What typical Leicester buildings cost, and why
These are typical examples, not customers. They show how the same city produces very different quotes.
| Building | What drives the price | Likely quote |
|---|---|---|
| Ground-floor café on Queens Road, 60 m², 4 staff | One storey, one exit route, simple layout. Quick to walk and write up. | £200–£250 |
| 4-bed student house in Clarendon Park, 2 storeys | Small HMO, bedrooms to check, possibly in the selective licensing area so the report must suit the council. | £250–£300 |
| 6-bed licensed HMO in Westcotes, 3 storeys with loft room | Third storey changes the escape rules, more doors and detectors to check, mandatory licence paperwork. | £320–£400 |
| Victorian villa in Stoneygate split into 6 flats | Conversion, single timber stair, doubts about separation. May need a Type 3 with access to some flats. | £350–£550 |
| 4-storey converted factory near St George’s, 24 flats | Over 11 metres, so fire door check records are reviewed too. Long corridors, risers and plant rooms. | £450–£600 |
| Takeaway with 2 flats above, Narborough Road | Mixed use, cooking risk under sleeping accommodation, escape past the shop. Needs a careful look at the floor between. | £300–£450 |
Ranges are what we would expect quotes to be in Leicester. Larger or more complex buildings sit above the standard ranges in the table at the top. Your fixed quote depends on the actual size, layout and access.
How Leicester prices compare with published prices elsewhere
In September 2026 we checked the lowest published prices on 20 fire risk assessment websites across the UK, including VAT. The spread is wide.
| Property type | Firms publishing a price | Lowest | Middle (median) | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small office or shop | 9 | £178.80 | £250 | £360 |
| HMO or shared house | 8 | £139.99 | £204.50 | £480 |
| Flats, communal areas | 5 | £109 | £195 | £420 |
Method: lowest advertised price per property type on each firm’s own website, checked 26 September 2026. Ex-VAT prices were multiplied by 1.2. We will recheck in March 2027.
Six things that change a Leicester quote
Storeys, more than floor area
A bigger building on one level is fairly quick to assess. Every extra storey adds stairs, landings and escape questions. In published price lists, an extra storey typically adds around a fifth to the price, while doubling floor area adds much less.
People sleeping there
HMOs, flats, care homes and hotels carry a sleeping risk, so detection and escape are checked more closely. That takes longer than a daytime-only shop or office.
The assessment type
For blocks of flats, a Type 3 (which includes going into a sample of flats) costs roughly 1.7 times a standard Type 1. Most Leicester blocks only need a Type 1 to start with.
Records and paperwork
If alarm servicing, emergency lighting tests and fire door checks are already logged, the assessor reviews them. If nothing exists, the report takes longer and the action list gets longer.
Access
A building where every area can be seen on one visit is cheaper than one needing a return trip for locked rooms or roof spaces.
Deadlines
An enforcement notice or a licence deadline can mean a visit within days. Urgent bookings may cost more, so book the annual review before it becomes urgent.
Real questions about fire safety costs
“The quote for the fire door check was around £56 and the quite for the fire alarms (I have 3) is £130.”A flat owner on the MoneySavingExpert forum, February 2025 (quoted as written)
The fire risk assessment is only one cost. It usually leads to a small number of recurring checks: fire doors, alarm servicing and emergency lighting tests. Ask the assessor which checks the action plan will need, and roughly how often, so you can budget before you book.
“I can’t see anywhere online that says eg you need a fire risk assessment every X years”A small freehold company director on Mumsnet, December 2024
That is right: the law says “regularly”, not a set number of years. In practice most Leicester HMOs and blocks are reviewed yearly. A review of an existing assessment usually costs less than the first one, often around half to two thirds of the original fee.
Other costs Leicester landlords should plan for
If you let an HMO or a home in one of Leicester’s licensing areas, the fire risk assessment sits alongside the council’s licence fee. These are separate and paid to different people.
| Cost | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Fire risk assessment (3–5 bed HMO) | £250–£400 | The assessor |
| Mandatory HMO licence (5+ tenants) | £900 | Leicester City Council |
| Selective licence (designated areas) | £1,290 | Leicester City Council |
Licence fees from Leicester City Council, checked September 2026. Our HMO guide explains which licence applies.
Fire risk assessment cost questions
Is VAT included in your Leicester prices?
The ranges on this page are a guide. Your written quote will state clearly whether VAT applies, so there are no surprises.
Why are some online fire risk assessments so cheap?
Some are completed from a questionnaire or a very short visit. The law requires a suitable and sufficient assessment of your actual building. If a cheap report misses something, the fine and the fix will cost far more than the saving.
Does the price include the remedial work?
No. The assessor assesses and reports, nothing more. The action plan tells you what to fix, and you can use any contractor. No remedial works are sold with the assessment.
Is a review cheaper than a new assessment?
Usually. If the building and its use have not changed much, a review takes less time. If there have been big changes, a new assessment may be needed.
Can I get a price without a visit?
Yes. Send the address, building type, number of storeys and rooms or flats, and a local assessor will give you a fixed quote before anyone visits.
Get your fixed Leicester quote
Tell us what the building is, where it is and roughly how big. A local assessor gets back to you with a fixed quote covering the visit, the report and the action plan. It is based on the details you give, so the more you tell us, the firmer it is.
Or call 0116 497 6683. Also see our blocks of flats guide.