The chimney

With normal use of your fireplace, your chimney will need sweeping once or even twice a year.
If you have a wood burning stove, the flue pipe between stove and chimney will need sweeping with a flue brush.
If you have any L or Tee bends make sure soot is cleaned out from the bends as well.

The fire place

The fireplace itself will need checking -

Does the grate need replacing?
Does the fret need the surface touched up?
(Please use the same procedure for the fireplace surround.) Does the grate need re-placing?
Is the hearth intact?

The fireplace setting