# Responsible person (fire safety)

The person or organisation in control of a building's common parts in connection with a business or undertaking, who is legally responsible for fire safety there under the Fire Safety Order.

Also called: RP, responsible person under the Fire Safety Order.

In a block of flats the responsible person is usually whoever manages the common parts: the freeholder, a residents' management company or, after the acquisition date, an RTM company. "Undertaking" includes not-for-profit ones, so a volunteer-run company counts.

## What the responsible person must do

- Carry out and record a [fire risk assessment](https://runyourblock.co.uk/glossary/fire-risk-assessment), and act on it.
- Give residents fire safety information, including fire safety instructions and information about fire doors (Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022).
- Co-operate with any other responsible persons for the same building, and with residents.
- When responsibility passes to someone new, **the outgoing responsible person must hand over the relevant fire safety information** (art 22A).

There can be more than one responsible person, each for the parts they control. For taller buildings there are extra duties, and a separate "accountable person" regime under the Building Safety Act 2022 for higher-risk buildings.

## Related terms

- [Fire risk assessment](https://runyourblock.co.uk/glossary/fire-risk-assessment)
- [Common parts](https://runyourblock.co.uk/glossary/common-parts)
- [RTM company](https://runyourblock.co.uk/glossary/rtm-company)
- [Residents' management company (RMC)](https://runyourblock.co.uk/glossary/residents-management-company)

## Sources

- [Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, art 3 (meaning of responsible person)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/1541/article/3)
- [Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, art 22A (sharing information with a new responsible person)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/1541/article/22A)
- [GOV.UK: Check your fire safety responsibilities under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/check-your-fire-safety-responsibilities-under-the-fire-safety-england-regulations-2022)

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Updated 22 October 2026. Source: https://runyourblock.co.uk/glossary/responsible-person