Fire risk assessments in Maidstone
The Fire Network is a family-run fire safety company based in Larkfield, about four miles from Maidstone town centre. We carry out fire risk assessments, fire door inspections and fire warden training for businesses, landlords and managing agents across the town.
- Fire authority
- Kent Fire and Rescue Service
- Local council
- Maidstone Borough Council
- Who attends
- Our own IFSM-member assessors
- Distance
- about 4 miles from our office
- Accreditation
- BAFE SP205, ID 303595
Maidstone is Kent's county town and its largest office centre, with a busy retail core and a night-time economy worth around £75 million a year. That mix means very different fire risks within a few streets, from shared escape routes in shopping centres to high occupancy in late-night venues.
It also has communal areas in blocks of flats and historic buildings where alterations are restricted, such as the Grade I listed Archbishop's Palace and the medieval buildings around All Saints' Church.
Every assessment is carried out in person by a member of the Institute of Fire Safety Managers. You get a clear written report with prioritised actions, not a generic checklist.
Who needs a fire risk assessment in Maidstone
- Town-centre retail and shopping centres
- The Mall, Fremlin Walk and Lockmeadow put large mixed-tenancy retail space in one place, with shared escape routes. Service corridors and stockrooms are where most issues are found.
- Offices
- Maidstone has Kent's largest office centre, including council and public-sector buildings near Maidstone East. Multi-tenant buildings need coordinated procedures.
- Pubs, bars and late-night venues
- A night-time economy worth about £75m a year means high-occupancy venues where staff training matters as much as the assessment.
- Blocks of flats and HMOs
- Communal areas fall under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, and the council adopted new HMO planning guidance in July 2025.
- Historic and listed buildings
- Grade I buildings such as the Archbishop's Palace need fire precautions that respect what can and can't be altered.
Your local fire authority
Fire safety in Maidstone is enforced by Kent Fire and Rescue Service, which covers Kent and Medway. Its inspectors can visit premises, ask to see your fire risk assessment and issue enforcement notices under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. A current, written assessment is the first thing they will ask for.
Rules that apply in Maidstone
- Maidstone Borough Council adopted an HMO Supplementary Planning Document on 23 July 2025, used when assessing HMO planning applications.
- Mandatory HMO licensing applies to properties with 5 or more people forming 2 or more households. What this means
- Blocks of flats over 11 m need quarterly checks of communal fire doors. What this means
Maidstone fire safety questions
How quickly can you carry out a fire risk assessment in Maidstone?
We're based in Larkfield, so we can usually attend within a few working days. Urgent visits are often possible sooner.
Who enforces fire safety for businesses in Maidstone?
Kent Fire and Rescue Service enforces the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and can inspect premises and issue notices.
Do I need a fire risk assessment for an HMO in Maidstone?
Yes. The landlord or managing agent is the responsible person for the common parts, and the assessment must be recorded in writing.
Can you assess listed buildings in the town centre?
Yes. We recommend measures that meet the Fire Safety Order without unnecessary changes to the historic fabric.
Can you assess a unit inside The Mall or Fremlin Walk?
Yes. We assess your unit and how it fits into the centre's wider evacuation strategy and alarm system.
Gary who attended was great. He was very professional and advised on some bits we needed to adapt. He helped with questions I had with regards to regulations and explained in detail everything required.
Nearby areas we cover
Get a free quote
Tell us about the building in Maidstone and we'll come back to you with a free, no-obligation quote.
- Phone07810 861397
- Emailadmin@thefirenetwork.co.uk
- Office36 Laburnum Drive, Larkfield, ME20 6LU