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Communal Stairwell & Shared Entrance Risk Assessment — Generated Instantly for £29
Describe the building — a converted property, an entrance hall serving flats above, a shared staircase and landing. We generate a fully written, UK-compliant fire and safety risk assessment for the communal areas in minutes.
Used by freeholders, managing agents, landlords and residents' management companies across the UK
🚪 Converted property with a shared entrance hall leading to first floor flats? Mention it — we'll assess the specific escape route from the hall, staircase and landing, and the fire door and self-closer condition serving each flat.
Legal requirements for shared entrances and stairwells
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to the common parts of any building containing more than one dwelling — including converted houses split into flats. Article 9 places a duty on the responsible person to carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment of those shared areas, identifying hazards such as fire spread, blocked escape routes, and inadequate fire separation between the entrance hall, stairwell and individual flats.
This duty sits separately from any responsibility an individual leaseholder or tenant has for their own flat. Under Article 3 of the Order, the responsible person for the common parts — typically the freeholder, landlord or managing agent — must also ensure fire doors, emergency lighting and escape routes serving the shared entrance hall and staircase are maintained and reviewed. A written risk assessment is the standard way to demonstrate this duty has been met, and is often requested by insurers, mortgage lenders and local authorities.
Where the building falls within scope of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, additional record-keeping duties apply, including checks on the condition of flat entrance doors opening onto communal escape routes. Even where a building is small and does not meet the threshold for these regulations, the underlying Fire Safety Order duty to assess the shared entrance and stairwell still applies in full.
How it works
1. Describe the building
Tell us the number of flats, the layout of the shared entrance hall and staircase, fire door condition, and any known hazards like storage in the hallway or missing emergency lighting.
2. Let the app take the strain
Anyrisks produces a fully written, UK-compliant assessment referencing the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and, where relevant, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022.
3. Instant download and use
Download as PDF and Word. Share it with leaseholders, keep it for insurance purposes, or file it as evidence for your local authority. £29, no subscription.
What it covers
Every communal stairwell and shared entrance risk assessment is written in full — covering all hazards relevant to shared access areas.
Fire risk from combustible materials stored in the entrance hall or under stairs
Escape route width, obstruction and signage in shared corridors
Fire door condition, self-closers and seals on flat entrance doors
Fire separation between the communal stairwell and individual flats
Emergency lighting provision and testing on stairs and landings
Smoke and heat alarm coverage in common parts
Electrical installation condition serving the entrance hall and lighting
Trip and slip hazards on stairs, landings and thresholds
Bin and bicycle storage risks in or near the entrance
Post and delivery item accumulation blocking escape routes
Means of escape in the event of fire for upper floor flats
Fire action notices and resident fire safety information
Housekeeping and cleaning regime for shared areas
Access for fire and rescue services to the building
Works for
From two-flat conversions to larger blocks with shared access, Anyrisks covers every type of communal entrance arrangement.
What customers say
"I own the freehold of a converted Victorian house split into three flats. Our insurer asked for a fire risk assessment of the shared hallway and stairs — Anyrisks had it done in minutes and it was exactly what they wanted."
Richard N.
Freeholder, Bristol
"We manage a small block of four flats with a shared entrance and staircase. This assessment covered the fire doors, emergency lighting and escape route far more thoroughly than the generic template we'd been using."
Fiona A.
Managing agent, Leeds
"Our resident management company needed to show the local authority we'd assessed the common parts. The document referenced the right Fire Safety Order duties and gave us clear actions on the entrance hall storage."
Owen T.
RMC director, Cardiff
Anyrisks vs DIY templates
| Anyrisks | DIY / Templates | |
|---|---|---|
| Written in full — not a blank form | ✓ | ✗ |
| Fire Safety Order 2005 referenced correctly | ✓ | ✗ |
| Distinguishes shared entrance from HMO or full flat FRA | ✓ | ✗ |
| Covers fire doors and self-closers on flat entrances | ✓ | ✗ |
| Accounts for building-specific layout and flat count | ✓ | ✗ |
| Suitable for insurers, lenders and local authorities | ✓ | Sometimes |
| Ready in under 2 minutes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Instant PDF and Word download | ✓ | Sometimes |
Frequently asked questions
Do communal stairwells and shared entrances need a separate fire risk assessment?
Yes. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the responsible person for a building with common parts — such as a converted property split into flats with a shared entrance hall and staircase — must carry out a fire risk assessment covering those communal areas specifically, separate from any assessment of individual flats.
Who counts as the responsible person for a shared entrance and stairwell?
Under Article 3 of the Fire Safety Order, the responsible person is usually the freeholder, managing agent or landlord who has control of the common parts. In converted properties with several long-leasehold flats, this is often the freeholder or a resident management company, not the individual flat owners.
Is this the same as a full HMO fire risk assessment?
No. This assessment is for shared access areas — entrance halls, staircases, landings and corridors — serving self-contained flats that are not licensable as an HMO. An HMO fire risk assessment covers additional duties under the Housing Act 2004 and HMO licensing conditions where the property is let to multiple unrelated households sharing facilities.
What hazards does a communal stairwell assessment typically cover?
It covers fire risk from combustible materials stored in communal areas, escape route obstruction, fire door condition and self-closers, emergency lighting, smoke alarm coverage in common parts, electrical installations serving the hallway, and trip and slip hazards on stairs and landings.
How often should the assessment be reviewed?
The HSE and fire safety guidance recommend reviewing a fire risk assessment at least annually, or sooner if there is a change to the building — such as new flooring, altered fire doors, building works, or a change of occupancy in any of the flats served by the shared entrance.
Does this cover the requirements of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022?
Yes. Where relevant to the building height and layout, the assessment references the duties under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, including checks on fire doors in common parts and provision of fire safety information to residents.
Can I use this if the property is only two or three flats?
Yes. Even small converted properties — for example a house split into two or three flats with a shared ground floor entrance leading to upper floor flats — have a legal duty to assess the communal areas. The Fire Safety Order applies regardless of the number of units sharing the common parts.
How long does it take to generate?
Under two minutes. Describe the building layout, the shared areas, and any known hazards, and Anyrisks produces a complete, regulation-referenced communal stairwell and shared entrance risk assessment instantly.
Also see: The ultimate guide to risk assessment · Do I need a risk assessment · Risk assessment legal requirements · AI risk assessment generator