Rochester and shared workspace
An office in a managed centre may depend on building-wide alarm and evacuation arrangements. Confirm which spaces the tenant and manager control, what records exist and whether the suite has been refitted.
Local assessment guidance · Kent
Fire risk assessments in Medway
Medway spans several town centres and different building arrangements. Tell an assessor whether the instruction is for a Rochester office, a Chatham mixed-use building, a Gillingham unit or rented accommodation.
Medway building context
Medway is several towns, not one premises type
Medway Council describes five town centres, business parks and managed workspaces. These offer useful context for scoping an enquiry, but they are not a fire-risk rating for any address. The actual tenant boundaries, occupants and activity determine the assessment.
Chatham and Gillingham mixed premises
A town-centre shop or restaurant in a converted building may have residential accommodation above. Draw the boundaries of the instruction and identify shared stairs, doors, alarms and responsible persons.
Strood and business units
Storage, fabrication or vehicle activity should be described before quoting. The assessor may need to inspect yards, mezzanines, charging arrangements and interfaces with neighbouring units.
A practical local question
A Medway landlord mentions a new licensing scheme—what next?
Medway Council describes selective and additional HMO licensing for particular wards, but its public page says notices, maps and dates are being updated. Do not assume a scheme applies to an address without checking the latest council position.
Check assessor competence- Give the council the full address and ask which current designation and licence conditions, if any, apply.
- Tell the assessor whether the property is a shared HMO, a single-household let, self-contained flats or a mixed-use building.
- Provide occupancy, plans, previous assessment, alarm and lighting records, and any council correspondence.
- Keep any licensing application separate from the FRA report and action plan; one does not automatically satisfy the other.
Match the assessment to the building
Medway assessment questions by use
These guides explain the different questions an assessor may ask. For another use, browse the full property-type directory.
Multi-occupier offices
Identify building manager and tenant duties for common routes, fire systems and fit-outs.
Facilities-manager guideHMO or rented building
Clarify the tenancy arrangement, shared areas and any council documentation request.
HMO FRA guideIndustrial unit
Describe processes, storage, battery charging, shift patterns and shared estate systems.
Workshop FRA guideIndicative cost
Why the starting price is not a fixed quote
A Rochester office suite, Chatham restaurant and Gillingham workshop need different inspection scopes. An online range cannot include every tenant interface, travel arrangement or specialist hazard; use it to start the conversation, not as a confirmed price.
Our starting bands are based on the London and Surrey planning model; the actual Medway quotation will depend on the site-specific inspection, reporting and travel arrangements.
Use the full FRA cost calculatorCompare quotations on scope
- Named assessor and relevant building experience
- Areas to be inspected and site access
- Written report, significant findings and action plan
- Limitations, timescale, VAT and travel
Choose a suitable person
Check the assessor, not just the company name
Ask about recent work on comparable premises, insurance and who will inspect and sign the report. BAFE SP205 is organisation-level certification; NFRAR relates to an individual assessor’s registration. Check current status and competence for the exact job.
How to check competenceNo-obligation enquiry
Find assessment support for your Medway premises
Send the essentials now. We can discuss the building, access, records and likely scope by telephone before a suitable assessor and quotation are confirmed.
Submitting this form does not book an assessment or commit you to a price.
Town-specific answers
Questions about Medway fire risk assessments
The answer for a particular premises depends on its use, layout, occupants and current records.
Is Medway the same as Maidstone for assessment coverage?
No. Medway includes Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham, Strood and Rainham, while Maidstone is a separate authority. Give the complete premises postcode and town rather than “Kent” alone.
Do Medway’s property licensing schemes apply to every rental?
No universal conclusion can be drawn from the town name. The council describes ward-specific designations and currently notes that public notices, maps and dates are being updated. Check the current address-specific position with Medway Council.
Who is responsible for an FRA in a managed Medway office?
The tenant and building manager may control different parts of the premises. Identify who manages the shared fire precautions, and ensure responsible persons cooperate and exchange relevant findings.
Do I need a new FRA after a Medway fit-out?
A significant change to layout, use, occupancy or precautions can make an earlier assessment no longer representative. Review it and arrange a competent reassessment where appropriate.
Sources and context
Check the primary guidance
Council licensing and planning information may change. Check current official guidance for your address; the examples on this page are scoping prompts, not findings about a particular building.
More local guidance
Explore other locations
Start with Kent assessment guidance or another town guide. Each enquiry is reviewed for the actual premises. For wider context, compare fire incident statistics for ten selected districts; these counts do not diagnose any individual building.