Don’t Be Caught Out by Cheap Fire Risk Assessments & Fire Door Surveys – What You Need to Know

Richard Kirby
Jun 26
2 min read

In today’s digital marketplace, fire risk assessments and fire door surveys are being offered online at increasingly low prices. Click-based services and online-only providers are popping up everywhere, promising “fast and affordable” assessments with minimal hassle.

But at 20A Limited, we’re urging businesses and property owners to look beyond the price tag.

The “Too Good to Be True” Trap

Many companies use low-cost fire risk assessments as a foot in the door. They advertise heavily on Google and social media with flashy headlines like “Fire Risk Assessment – Only £99!”, which can seem appealing when you're trying to manage costs.

But what’s often left out of these ads is what happens after the assessment:

You're told your property is “high risk”
You're given a long list of urgent remedial work
And you're handed a hefty quote for that work – often by the same company that did the assessment

This tactic isn’t new. It’s known as a loss-leader strategy – quoting cheap up front to win your trust, then upselling expensive services to turn a profit. Unfortunately, fire safety is too important to be handled like a sales funnel.

Inflated Costs, Unnecessary Work

We’ve had clients come to us after receiving quotes for tens of thousands of pounds in fire door replacements, signage, or compartmentation – all based on an initial low-cost assessment.

In many cases, the work was exaggerated or entirely unnecessary. We’ve even seen doors flagged for replacement that were fully compliant, just a few years old, or could be repaired for a fraction of the quoted cost.

This is not just unethical — it’s a risk to your business, your budget, and potentially your safety.

Fire Door Scare Tactics

Fire doors are a common target. Rogue assessors often:

Fail to conduct proper inspections
Declare doors non-compliant without evidence
Push full replacement instead of repair or adjustment

Then, they conveniently offer to carry out the work at an inflated price. This is a conflict of interest you should never ignore.

Why Trust & Transparency Matter

At 20A Limited, we believe fire safety should never be used as a sales tactic. We don’t carry out remedial works ourselves — and that’s important.

It means our assessments are:

Completely impartial – we have no incentive to exaggerate
Clear and proportionate – only what’s needed to meet legal compliance
Carried out by qualified professionals – with real industry experience
Fully insured and accredited – your safety, our priority

We give you honest, expert advice – and if you do need work done, we can recommend trusted third-party contractors or guide you in sourcing fair quotes.

Don’t Gamble With Fire Safety

If you’ve received a suspiciously cheap quote for a fire risk assessment – ask the tough questions:

Are they qualified and insured?
Will they try to sell you remedial work afterward?
Is the price too low to reflect a proper on-site assessment?

If it feels too good to be true, it usually is.

Choose 20A Limited – Honest Fire Safety Advice That Puts You First

We provide reliable, no-pressure fire risk assessments for landlords, property managers, HMO owners, and businesses across the UK. We don't use fear tactics or inflated quotes – just clear guidance and practical solutions to keep you safe and compliant.