Fire Risk Assessment Cardiff
Cardiff has student houses in Cathays and Roath, flats in Cardiff Bay and the city centre, and shops, cafés and offices in older terraces and arcades. A fire risk assessment must reflect your actual building and how it is used. Wales follows the same Fire Safety Order as England, with some important differences for landlords.
Serving Cardiff businesses in the area covered by South Wales Fire and Rescue Service. We are independent of the fire service.
Who needs a fire risk assessment in Cardiff?
HMO and student landlords
Cardiff has a large shared-housing market around Cathays, Roath and Plasnewydd. Shared Regulatory Services says the Cathays additional HMO licensing scheme that went live on 1 February 2023 runs for five years. The Plasnewydd scheme ended on 31 December 2025, and the council is consulting on whether to declare another one, with that consultation due to close on 31 December 2026. Large HMOs still need a mandatory licence. The shared hallway, stairs and kitchen need a fire risk assessment.
Landlords of rented homes
Under the Renting Homes (Wales) rules, rented homes must have working mains-powered, interlinked smoke alarms on every storey and carbon monoxide alarms where there is a gas, oil or solid fuel appliance. Rent Smart Wales advises keeping evidence. Landlords must also register with Rent Smart Wales.
Flats in Cardiff Bay and the city centre
Freeholders and managing agents are responsible for the common parts of blocks of flats. Since the Fire Safety Act 2021 the assessment must cover the structure, external walls including cladding and balconies, and flat entrance doors, as well as corridors and stairs.
Shops, cafés, offices and venues
Businesses in the city-centre arcades, on St Mary Street, City Road or Albany Road, and in offices around Cardiff Bay all need a recorded assessment. Shared buildings need co-operation with the landlord and other occupiers over alarms, exits and fire doors.
Fire safety duties in Cardiff
The law in Wales
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies in Wales as well as England. The responsible person, usually the employer, owner, landlord or managing agent, must make sure a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment is carried out and acted on. The Welsh Government publishes the guidance for Wales on GOV.WALES.
Recording the assessment
Since 1 October 2023 you must record the fire risk assessment in full, including all findings, and your fire safety arrangements, whatever the size of the business. Record who carried out or reviewed the assessment, and share your contact details, including a UK address, with other responsible persons in the building.
Local fire authority
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service enforces fire safety law in Cardiff and the surrounding South Wales council areas. Its business fire safety advice is useful, but this service is independent: a report bought here is not endorsed or automatically accepted by the fire service, an insurer or a solicitor.
England-only rules
The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, with their fire door checks and resident information duties, do not apply in Wales. Guidance written for England may not match the Welsh position, so check GOV.WALES before relying on it.
Book a fire risk assessor in Cardiff
The assessor visit option is £250 + VAT (£300 total) and includes an on-site inspection and written report. Use it when you need professional help with the assessment rather than only an online questionnaire. Describe the premises and the scope you need before booking if there are unusual or complex risks. Availability and the appointment must be confirmed separately; the visit report is not delivered instantly on payment.
Areas covered in Cardiff
The online service is available for Cardiff premises. For a site visit, confirm that the appointment and assessment scope cover your exact address before relying on a booking.
Cardiff fire authority, licensing and postcodes
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service is the fire and rescue service for Cardiff and nine other council areas: Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Newport, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Torfaen and the Vale of Glamorgan. This service is independent of the fire service.
Cardiff addresses commonly use CF postcodes, including CF10, CF11, CF24, CF23, CF14, CF5 and CF3. Licensing follows the ward and the scheme in force, not the postcode alone. The online assessment can be completed for Cardiff premises. It is the same UK-wide service, not a Cardiff office.
Building types you will see around the city include terraced houses let as shared homes, flats in the bay and the city centre, and shops and offices in older streets and arcades. The assessment still has to follow the actual building.
Cwmbran, Newport and the rest of South Wales
The same online assessment is available outside Cardiff. South Wales Fire and Rescue Service also covers Newport, Torfaen (including Cwmbran and Pontypool), Caerphilly, Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr Tydfil, Blaenau Gwent, Monmouthshire and the Vale of Glamorgan, so the same Welsh rules and the same fire authority apply across that area.
In Cwmbran, units on industrial estates often share access roads, yards and sometimes alarm systems with neighbouring businesses, so record who is responsible for each shared precaution. Shops in the town centre, flats above shops and small blocks of flats have common parts that need their own assessment by the freeholder or managing agent.
Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and the west are covered by Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service. The law is the same; the contact details and local guidance differ.
Commercial, industrial and factory premises in Cardiff
Offices, shops, warehouses, workshops and factories are relevant premises under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which applies in Wales. The responsible person must make sure the assessment reflects the work actually carried out on site.
For factories and industrial units, consider processes involving heat, dust, flammable liquids or gases, battery charging, waste and packaging storage, and out-of-hours working. Where dangerous substances are present, the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) may also apply and need specialist input.
A straightforward single-occupancy office or shop may suit the online assessment from £25 + VAT. Large warehouses, sites with hazardous processes or premises with sleeping accommodation are better served by an assessor visit (£250 + VAT).
Common Fire Risks in Cardiff Properties
From Victorian arcades and terraced shops to modern blocks in Cardiff Bay, premises in Cardiff vary widely. Inspect the building and record what you find. An online questionnaire helps you document the assessment; it does not replace understanding the premises or getting specialist advice where you need it.
Shared student houses
Terraced houses converted for sharers can have a single staircase as the only escape route. Check that bedroom doors, the alarm system and the route to the front door protect everyone, and that bikes, bins and furniture are kept out of the hallway.
Flats above shops
A fire in a ground-floor shop or takeaway can block the only exit from the flats above. Check separation between the shop and the residential parts, alarm arrangements and who is responsible for each.
Kitchens and late-night venues
Cafés, restaurants and bars have cooking, electrical and smoking-related ignition sources, often with visitors who do not know the building. Keep escape routes clear at busy times and train staff to raise the alarm and help people out.
Complete Your Cardiff Fire Risk Assessment Online
- Inspect your premises and gather relevant maintenance, alarm and evacuation information before answering.
- Enter the property details and complete the guided assessment accurately. Seek competent advice where an answer is uncertain.
- After payment and completion, download the PDF. Review its findings and act on recommendations; the report does not itself remove hazards.
Simple, Transparent Pricing
Online DIY: £25 + VAT (£30 total). Flats: £45 + VAT (£54 total). HMO: £80 + VAT (£96 total). An assessor visit is fixed at £250 + VAT (£300 total); appointment arrangements are confirmed separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I carry out the assessment myself?
You may carry out your own assessment if you have the knowledge, experience and understanding of the premises needed to identify hazards, evaluate risks and decide appropriate precautions. Straightforward premises may suit a guided online assessment. If you are unsure about escape routes, fire separation, sleeping accommodation or complex risks, seek competent help. Completing a questionnaire alone does not establish legal compliance.
Will a fire service, insurer or solicitor accept my report?
We cannot guarantee acceptance by a fire and rescue service, insurer, landlord or solicitor. Ask the organisation requesting the assessment what scope and competence it requires, including whether an on-site visit is needed. A building's small size or location does not establish suitability or acceptance.
What does the online PDF include?
The online report records your answers, a calculated risk score, identified findings and prioritised recommendations. The usefulness of the report depends on accurate information about the actual premises. Check the findings, assign actions and keep evidence of the precautions and maintenance you put in place.
How much does it cost?
The standard online DIY assessment costs £25 + VAT (£30 total). The separate flats assessment is £45 + VAT (£54 total), and the HMO assessment is £80 + VAT (£96 total). The advertised assessor visit is a fixed £250 + VAT (£300 total). Choose the appropriate scope before paying; contact us if the premises or required assessment are unusual.
When will I receive the report?
For the online option, the PDF is available after payment and completion of the assessment. Allow enough time to inspect the premises and answer accurately; there is no promised assessment duration. An assessor visit requires an appointment and a subsequent written report, not an instant online PDF.
How do I arrange an assessment in Cardiff?
Use the existing online form to enter your Cardiff premises details and choose the appropriate assessment. If you need professional help, use the assessor booking page instead. Booking availability and the appointment must be confirmed separately. Please contact support before buying if you are unsure which route meets your needs.
Do factories and warehouses in Cardiff need a fire risk assessment?
Yes. Factories, warehouses and industrial units are relevant premises, so the responsible person must ensure a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment. Premises with hazardous processes, dangerous substances or complex construction usually need a competent assessor.
Further Guidance and Help
Read the Welsh Government's guidance on fire safety responsibilities, the Fire Safety Act 2021 guidance for Wales, Rent Smart Wales for landlords, and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. This is general guidance for relevant premises in Wales, not an assessment of your building or a guarantee of acceptance.
For questions about the online service, contact support. Browse service areas, the South Wales hub, see fire risk assessment prices or learn about fire risk assessment online.
How it works
Built around the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
- 1
Tell us about your premises
Enter the responsible person and property details.
- 2
Pay a fixed price securely
One-off payment by card, processed by Stripe.
- 3
Answer the guided questions
Work through fire hazards, detection, escape routes, equipment and management.
- 4
Get your PDF report
Your report is generated when you complete the assessment, ready to download.
What's included in your report
- Executive summary with an overall risk score and risk level
- Responsible person and property details
- Findings based on your answers
- Recommendations grouped by high, medium and low priority, each with an action
- Guidance on the responsible person's duties (Article 3 of the Fire Safety Order)
- When to review your assessment
Clear, fixed prices
- Online DIY assessment£25 + VAT (£30 inc. VAT)
- Flat assessment£45 + VAT (£54 inc. VAT)
- HMO assessment£80 + VAT (£96 inc. VAT)
- On-site assessor visit£250 + VAT (£300 inc. VAT)
Each price is a one-off payment for that assessment.
Legal basis: Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, Fire Safety Act 2021 and Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022; Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 in Scotland.
Secure payment: card payments are processed by Stripe.
14-day cooling-off: full refund within 14 days if the assessment hasn't been started and the report hasn't been opened. See terms.
Common questions
Is an online fire risk assessment legally acceptable?
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires a suitable and sufficient assessment by the responsible person, not a particular format. The online tool helps you record it. For complex, larger or higher-risk premises, book an assessor visit instead.
Is this a certificate of compliance?
No. The report is based on the information you provide and is not a certificate of compliance. If you are unsure, an on-site assessor visit (£250 + VAT) may suit you better.
Are there any hidden costs?
No. Each price is a one-off fixed payment for that assessment, shown with and without VAT before you pay.
Can I get a refund?
For online and HMO assessments you can request a full refund within 14 days if the assessment hasn't been started and the report hasn't been opened. Assessor visits can be cancelled for a full refund up to 48 hours before the appointment. See our terms for details.
What about Scotland and Northern Ireland?
The Fire Safety Order applies in England and Wales. Scotland has its own legislation, the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, and our Scottish pages explain the differences.