Managing fire safety in a block of flats requires a combination of building knowledge, inspection records, resident communication and follow-through on remedial actions.
Who is the Responsible Person?
In blocks of flats, the Responsible Person is generally the person or organisation with control of the relevant premises. This may be a freeholder, management company, Right to Manage company, housing provider or another body with control. A managing agent may carry out day-to-day tasks, but the legal responsibility remains with the relevant Responsible Person.
Government’s 2026 residents’ guide to fire safety in blocks of flats explains that the Fire Safety Order places responsibility on the Responsible Person for relevant parts of the building.
Fire risk assessment
A suitable and sufficient assessment should consider the common parts and relevant building elements, including fire doors, protected routes, compartmentation, fire detection where relevant, emergency lighting and management arrangements.
Flat entrance doors
The Fire Safety Act 2021 clarified that flat entrance doors between domestic premises and common parts fall within the scope of the Fire Safety Order. Their condition and ability to protect the common means of escape should therefore be considered.
Routine fire-door checks over 11 metres
Where the top storey is more than 11 metres above ground level, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 require quarterly checks of communal fire doors and best endeavours to check flat entrance fire doors at least annually.
These routine checks are intentionally simple and do not replace specialist inspection where the fire risk assessment or defects indicate that more detailed assessment is appropriate. See GOV.UK fire door guidance.
Resident information
The 2022 Regulations also require Responsible Persons to provide residents with information about fire doors in relevant multi-occupied residential buildings. Managing agents should have a repeatable process for issuing and retaining evidence of this information.
Records matter
For a managed block, good records should connect each inspection to an action. A useful system will show the assessment date, door checks, defects, repair status, contractor evidence and the next review date.
Our guide to fire door requirements for blocks of flats provides more detail.
Managing agent support: See our dedicated fire safety services for property managers and managing agents.
Further reading: For a full overview of inspection scope, routine checks, common defects, reporting and current residential requirements, see our Complete UK Fire Door Inspection Guide.
Need help with fire safety compliance?
SJ Fire Safety Consultants supports freeholders and managing agents with fire risk assessments, fire door inspections and clear reporting for residential blocks. Contact SJ Fire Safety Consultants to discuss your building or portfolio.