Why You Need a Fire Risk Assessment in Warrington
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 places a legal duty on whoever is responsible for a non-domestic property, or the shared parts of a house in multiple occupation, to carry out a fire risk assessment and keep it under regular review. Warrington’s housing stock includes a significant number of HMOs and converted properties, particularly in the central wards, and it’s exactly this kind of shared, multi-occupancy housing where a proper fire risk assessment matters most – escape routes, fire doors and compartmentation all need to work for everyone in the building, not just the original single household the property was designed for.
A Reminder of Warrington’s Fire Risk
Warrington has seen just how serious a fire in a multi-occupancy building can become. In June 2025, a significant fire broke out in the stairwell of a four-storey residential building on Marsh House Lane. Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service scrambled engines from Warrington, Birchwood, Lymm, Knutsford, Penketh, Alsager and Widnes, along with aerial ladder platforms and support from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, as firefighters worked to rescue residents trapped by the blaze. In total, 50 people were rescued from the building, some through windows and balconies on the third and fourth floors, and thankfully no serious injuries were reported. It’s a powerful reminder of exactly why working fire doors, clear escape routes and a properly managed fire risk assessment matter so much in multi-occupancy buildings – a stairwell fire can cut off an entire building’s escape route in minutes.
Our Fire Safety Services in Warrington
Fire Risk Assessment
A comprehensive, structured inspection of your Warrington property covering fire hazards, means of escape, detection and alarm systems, emergency lighting and the people most at risk, with a clear, prioritised action plan at the end of it.
Fire Assessment Certificate
Documentation confirming your property meets its fire safety obligations, ready to show tenants, insurers, mortgage lenders or Warrington Borough Council’s planning and licensing teams.
Fire Safety Inspection
Regular or one-off inspections to check fire doors, alarms, extinguishers and escape routes remain in good working order between full assessments.
Who Needs a Fire Risk Assessment in Warrington?
You’re legally required to have a fire risk assessment if you are:
- A landlord letting a house in multiple occupation (HMO)
- A business owner or employer with premises in Warrington
- A managing agent responsible for the shared areas of a converted block or flats
- Running a shop, office or other non-domestic premises across the borough
Warrington Borough Council approved a borough-wide Article 4 Direction in June 2026, removing landlords’ automatic right to convert a family home into an HMO and requiring full planning permission instead, alongside a new Supplementary Planning Document setting minimum standards for living space and facilities. The direction was initially aimed at six central wards – Orford, Poplars and Hulme, Fairfield and Howley, Latchford East, Latchford West, and Bewsey and Whitecross – before being extended across the whole borough. If you’re planning to convert a property into an HMO anywhere in Warrington, you’ll need to factor in planning permission alongside your mandatory HMO licensing and fire risk assessment obligations.
How the Process Works
1. Initial Consultation
We discuss your property, its use and any concerns you already have, then arrange a convenient time to visit.
2. On-Site Assessment
Our assessor carries out a thorough, room-by-room inspection of your Warrington property, checking everything from fire doors to escape routes.
3. Report and Action Plan
You receive a detailed written report with clear, prioritised recommendations, so you know exactly what needs doing and by when.
