HMO fire risk assessment
Fire risk assessments for Cardiff HMOs.
Every Cardiff HMO needs a written fire risk assessment. Do yours online to BS 9792:2025, and see what Cardiff's own fire safety rules mean for your house.
Skip the £200–£500 assessor bill. Built on the guidance councils use, for £45.
Refund guarantee: full refund if your council rejects our report’s format or the standard it’s written to. Terms apply.
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Written by Bradley, Founder of FRASafeCouncil rules last checked 27 September 2026How we check →
Wales
Cardiff's HMO fire safety rules
Cardiff publishes its own HMO fire safety standard, "HMO Licensing Fire Safety and Amenity Standards: Housing Fire Safety Quick Reference Guide (Wales), locally amended by Cardiff Council" (Updated September 2022). It is based on the Wales standard, which 2 other councils use too. FRASafe's assessment follows BS 9792:2025 and LACORS. Below is what Cardiff's rules ask for in a typical house, so you know what to expect.
- Assessment for the licence
- Yes, as a licence condition
- Who can carry it out
- No rule on who writes it
- Last checked
- 27 September 2026
Running an HMO in Cardiff
The local rules and contacts that sit alongside your fire risk assessment, each taken from the council's or fire service's own website.
- Fire and rescue service
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service covers Cardiff.
Source: southwales-fire.gov.uk- Additional licensing
Cardiff runs additional licensing in Cathays ward, from 1 February 2023 to 1 February 2028, so smaller HMOs there need a licence too, not only those big enough for a mandatory licence.
Source: srs.walesShow the official wording
“The Scheme will be effective from 1st February 2023 and unless revoked beforehand will cease to have effect on 1st February 2028. The Scheme applies to all Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) within the area described above except those exempted by the relevant sections of the Act.”
- Planning
In Wales, turning a house into a small HMO always needs planning permission.
Source: gov.walesShow the official wording
“The provision enables uses in Class C4 to revert to Class C3 without requiring planning permission but does not allow a change from Class C3 to C4.”
Applying for or renewing your Cardiff HMO licence? Cardiff makes a written fire risk assessment a licence condition, and can ask to see it at any time.
Get my fire risk assessmentWorked example
What your Cardiff fire risk assessment will check
A typical 3-storey shared house with 6 tenants, run through Cardiff's rules. Each item shows the wording it comes from, and what your action plan says if the house is missing it. Your own house may need more or less, which is what the assessment works out.
Fire alarm
RequiredA linked fire alarm system (Grade D1, LD2)
“Grade D1 LD2 Alarm system (i.e. interlinked smoke alarms to escape route plus lounge and cellar/basement, and interlinked heat alarm to kitchen). ... Grade D1 LD2 Alarm - interlinked smoke alarms to escape route plus lounge and cellar/basement and heat alarm in each shared kitchen PLUS Interlinked Grade D1 smoke alarms in each bedroom. ... Mixed Alarm System. Grade D1 LD2 system with interlinked smoke alarms to escape route and basement/cellar with interlinked heat alarms to each bedsit PLUS additional non-interlinked mains wired smoke alarm D1 to each bedsit. ... Grade D1 LD2 (in 3 storey) Alarm system ... Grade D1 LD1 (in 4 storey) ... Grade A LD2 Alarm system -interlinked smoke detectors to escape route plus each bedsit, lounge and cellar/basement, and heat detector to shared kitchen. ... Non interlinked Grade D1 smoke detectors in EACH bed-sit.”
If it's missing: High priority in your action plan
The fire alarm is Grade F. This house needs a Grade D1 system with LD2 coverage. Have a qualified alarm engineer upgrade it to BS 5839-6. Required by HMO Licensing Fire Safety and Amenity Standards, Quick Reference Guide (Wales) locally amended by Cardiff Council (SRS copy) (Updated September 2022).
Fire doors
RequiredFire doors with self-closers on every bedroom and the kitchen
“Ideal standard (for normal risk property) ... 30 minute protected route with FD30 Fire Doors (no smoke seals) ... In low risk shared houses (see below)”
If it's missing: High priority in your action plan
Not every bedroom door is a fire door with a self-closer. Fit FD30 fire doors with self-closers to all bedrooms. Required by Housing Fire Safety: Quick Reference Guide (Wales), All Wales Housing Technical Panel (Undated).
Escape route
RequiredA protected escape route, with the hall and stairs giving 30 minutes' fire resistance
“Ideal standard (for normal risk property) ... 30 minute protected route with FD30 Fire Doors (no smoke seals) ... In low risk shared houses (see below)”
If it's missing: High priority in your action plan
The hallway and stairs are not confirmed as a 30-minute protected route. Make good any holes or open-plan gaps so walls and ceilings give 30 minutes' fire resistance. Required by Housing Fire Safety: Quick Reference Guide (Wales), All Wales Housing Technical Panel (Undated).
Kitchen heat detector
RequiredA linked heat detector in the kitchen
“additional interlinked heat alarm with integral battery back-up located in the kitchen”
If it's missing: High priority in your action plan
Not every kitchen has a linked heat alarm. Fit an interlinked heat alarm in each kitchen. Required by LACORS Housing - Fire Safety: guidance on fire safety provisions for certain types of existing housing (July 2008).
Emergency lighting
Not needed hereNot needed in this example house
“Emergency escape lighting required only if the route is long or complex or where there is no effective borrowed light ... Shared house HMO of five or six storeys (shared cooking facilities) Conventional lighting and emergency escape lighting”
Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will check it.
How it works
From Blank Screen to Finished Report in 35 Minutes
Produce a BS 9792:2025 HMO fire risk assessment, checked against the LACORS housing fire safety guide that most councils use.
You do not need to be a fire-safety expert. FRASafe turns the legal requirements into plain-English questions and builds the report for you.
Complete the assessment
Answer structured questions covering fire hazards, means of escape, fire detection, fire doors, and more, mapped to BS 9792:2025 and the RRO 2005. Progress saved automatically.
Review findings & action plan
FRASafe generates a prioritised action plan with risk ratings for every finding. Review and sign your declarations before generating the report.
Download your PDF report
For £45, download your finished fire risk assessment PDF, laid out for your licence application.
Real reviews
What HMO landlords say
“I manage three HMOs. An assessor quoted £350 each, over £1,000. I did all three with FRASafe in an afternoon for £135.”
“I was required to undergo a fire risk assessment as part of my HMO application. I found the Frasafe online form easy to complete and upload information to produce a Fire Risk Assessment that was relevant to my property. The price point of £45 was affordable, making Frasafe the right choice for my needs as a busy Landlord.”
“Super smooth process for getting my fire safety report for my AirBNB property. Will be using again.”
Free tool
How fire-safe is your HMO?
Take the free 60-second fire safety check and get an instant Red, Amber or Green score, plus the things to fix first. No obligation.
Simple pricing
No subscription. No hidden fees. Pay once per report.
£200–£500 professional assessor
- Full BS 9792:2025 questionnaire
- Works offline on-site
- PDF fire risk assessment in your name
- Built on the LACORS fire safety guide
- Lifetime access to your report
- Annual review reminder
One-off payment, taken securely at checkout.
Rejected report? Full refund.
If your council rejects your FRASafe report because of its format or the standard it is written to, send us their reason in writing within 30 days and we will refund your £45 in full. You take no risk. This does not apply if you went ahead after we told you your council requires a qualified assessor.
Common questions
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Start your Cardiff HMO fire risk assessment today
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