Fire Risk Assessment · Chester
Fire risk assessment
in Chester.
Based here. Working here.
Legally compliant fire risk assessments for businesses, landlords, and property managers across Chester. ABBE Level 4 qualified assessors based four miles from the city centre. From £295.
Fletcher Risk Management is based in Chester. We carry out fire risk assessments for businesses, landlords, care homes, schools, and managing agents across the city and the surrounding Cheshire West area — and we have done so since 2017. Chester is not a market we cover from a distance; it is the market we know best, and the one where we can often turn an assessment around within the same week.
The city's building stock is as varied as any in the North West. The medieval and Victorian fabric of the Rows, Eastgate Street, and the historic centre sit alongside Georgian terraces, Victorian HMO conversions, modern residential blocks, business parks, retail, care premises, and a large hospitality and tourism sector. Each building type has its own fire safety profile, and our assessors understand the specific risk environment of Chester's premises in a way that an assessor travelling from outside the area cannot replicate.
Assessment from
£295 per site
Fire door inspection
£14 per door
Fire safety training
£395 per session
Response time
Often same week
Chester fire safety context
Chester is a city of unusual fire safety complexity. The historic centre — including the Rows, the medieval city walls, and the densely packed Georgian and Victorian streets within and around the ring road — contains a large stock of listed and conservation-area buildings where the usual fire safety toolkit has to be applied with considerably more care and specialist knowledge than in a standard modern premises. Timber-framed construction, concealed voids, irregular compartmentation, and the accumulated modifications of centuries combine to create a risk profile that a standard commercial checklist will not address adequately.
Beyond the historic centre, Chester has a significant HMO and private rented sector, particularly around the university and the city's student population in the CH1 and CH2 postcodes. Cheshire West and Chester Council operates active licensing enforcement, and the quality of fire risk assessments submitted in support of HMO licence applications is scrutinised. Our ABBE Level 4 qualified assessments are accepted for council licensing applications without qualification.
Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service covers Chester and has increased its inspection activity across the commercial and residential sectors in recent years. The service's protection team carries out both routine and intelligence-led audits across Chester's business base, and the absence of a current, adequate fire risk assessment is one of the most common grounds for an enforcement notice.
Chester selective licensing and HMO compliance: Chester's HMO landlords are required to produce a fire risk assessment carried out by a competent person as part of the licensing process. Our ABBE Level 4 qualified assessors meet the competence standard that Cheshire West and Chester Council expects. We produce assessments accepted for licence applications and renewals, and we can turn around urgent assessments quickly for Chester properties.
Who we work with in Chester
HMO & BTL landlords
Chester's HMO and residential market
Chester has a strong HMO market around the university and city centre. We are the go-to assessors for landlords across CH1–CH4, producing ABBE Level 4 qualified assessments accepted for Cheshire West and Chester Council licensing applications.
Heritage & listed buildings
The Rows, the city centre, and conservation areas
Chester's historic buildings require assessors who understand the specific construction characteristics of timber-framed and listed premises, the constraints that conservation places on remedial options, and how to produce a practical assessment within those constraints.
Managing agents
Residential blocks and mixed-use developments
Residential blocks and mixed-use developments across Chester and Cheshire West, including higher-risk buildings under the Building Safety Act 2022. Portfolio pricing available for managing agents with multiple Chester properties.
Commercial & hospitality
Chester's retail, office, and hospitality sector
Offices, retail, restaurants, hotels, and hospitality venues across Chester city centre, the business parks, and the surrounding Cheshire West area. Chester's large tourism and hospitality sector creates specific sleeping risk assessment requirements.
Care & healthcare
Care homes and healthcare premises
Care homes, GP surgeries, and healthcare premises across Chester and Cheshire West. CQC-ready documentation as standard. PEEP review and evacuation strategy included for residential care settings.
Schools & education
Schools, academies, and colleges
Chester's schools, academies, and further education premises across the CH1–CH4 and surrounding area. Assessments aligned with DfE fire safety guidance and suitable for academy trust portfolios.
Our team
Tim Fletcher
Director · Founder
Tim founded Fletcher Risk Management in Chester in 2017, drawing on more than 30 years of fire industry experience. He leads our fire risk assessment work across Chester and Cheshire and carries out the most complex assessments personally.
- ABBE Level 4 Diploma in Fire Risk Assessment
- NEBOSH National General Certificate
- FPA Fire Safety Management Certificate
- Member — Fire Protection Association
- 30+ years fire industry experience
Sam Fletcher
Director
Sam leads operations at Fletcher Risk Management, combining ABBE Level 4 assessment qualification with a legal background and a decade of hands-on hospitality fire safety experience across Chester and the wider North West.
- ABBE Level 4 Diploma in Fire Risk Assessment
- Fire door inspection qualified
- Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- 10+ years hospitality fire safety experience
What our clients say
★★★★★
"Without doubt one of the best and most professional businesses I have used. Tim Fletcher is a highly regarded professional in his field. Don't take a chance — protect your staff, protect your building, protect your business."Chris H. · Google
★★★★★
"We appointed Fletcher Risk Management to conduct an assessment at one of our rental properties in Hoole. Tim demonstrated the utmost integrity and professionalism. We genuinely cannot recommend him highly enough."Andrew P. · Google
Common questions
How quickly can you carry out an assessment in Chester?
Chester is our base — we are often able to carry out assessments within the same week for Chester and Cheshire West premises. Call 01244 394 244 and we will tell you our current availability.
How much does a fire risk assessment cost in Chester?
Our assessments start from £295 for smaller premises. We provide a fixed price before the visit — no revisions on the day. See our full pricing guide for detail across different premises types.
Are your assessments accepted for Chester HMO licence applications?
Yes. Our ABBE Level 4 qualified assessors meet the competence standard that Cheshire West and Chester Council expects. We produce assessments accepted for HMO licence applications and renewals without qualification.
Can you assess listed buildings in Chester city centre?
Yes — listed and heritage buildings are a significant part of our Chester workload. We understand the specific fire safety challenges of timber-framed and historic buildings, the constraints that conservation places on remedial options, and how to produce a practical, actionable assessment within those constraints. See our article on fire safety in listed buildings for more.
Do you also carry out fire door inspections and training in Chester?
Yes — we offer all three services across Chester. A fire door inspection and a fire risk assessment can be carried out on the same visit, reducing disruption. Fire safety training can be delivered on-site at your Chester premises on a separate visit or combined where practical.
Further reading
Fire risk assessment in Chester. From £295.
We are based here. We know the building stock, the local authority requirements, and the enforcement environment. Tell us your premises type and we will come back with a fixed price.
Fletcher Risk Management Ltd is registered in England and based in Chester. This page provides general guidance on fire risk assessment obligations in Chester. Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service is the enforcing authority for the area.