In short: A protected escape route is the stair, landing and hall that lets everyone get out if there is a fire. We carry this out across Cardiff, priced against the HMO rules for Wales and the council’s own standards.
- Nation
- Wales
- Pricing region
- Wales
- Postcode areas
- CF
- Main towns
- Cardiff, Whitchurch
What do escape routes, emergency lighting and fire stopping in Cardiff involve?
- Emergency lighting to the route
- Glazing upgrades in doors and fanlights
- Photo record of hidden fire stopping
- Removing fire risks from the route
- Final exit door with thumb-turn
- Fire-resisting plasterboard to walls and ceilings
Which rules apply in Cardiff?
- Fitness for human habitation rules require mains-powered, interlinked smoke alarms on every storey and CO alarms where there is a gas, oil or solid-fuel appliance.
- Building regulations cover structural work, partitions, drainage, fire-resisting construction and electrics; confirm with building control whether the conversion is a material change of use.
- Mandatory licence for HMOs with 3 or more storeys and 5 or more people in 2 or more households; Wales did not adopt England’s 2018 change.
- Council HMO standards and the fire risk assessment set detection, fire doors and escape routes.
- Councils such as Cardiff and Swansea run additional licensing for HMOs outside the mandatory scheme.
Cardiff Council: local HMO schemes
| Additional licensing | In force in part of the council area Cathays: 1 Feb 2023 to 1 Feb 2028. Plasnewydd had a scheme from 1 Jan 2021; check with Cardiff Council whether it has been renewed. |
|---|---|
| Selective licensing | No scheme found |
Schemes change. Check the council’s current pages for the exact address in Cardiff before you buy or start work. Source: Cardiff Council HMO licensing page, checked 2026-10-31.
How much do escape routes, emergency lighting and fire stopping cost in Cardiff?
| Item | UK typical | Local guide | Per |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protected route upgrades: fire-resisting linings, fire stopping, lighting (three-storey house, our estimate) | £2,000 – £6,000 | £1,900 – £5,650 | house |
| Emergency light fitting, installed (our estimate) | £150 – £350 | £140 – £330 | fitting |
| FD30S fire door leaf into an existing frame, with seals, closer and hinges, fitted | £300 – £600 | £280 – £560 | door |
Typical time on site: 3–8 working days. For a figure for your house, try the guide-price tool.
Escape routes, emergency lighting and fire stopping by town in Cardiff
Questions about escape routes, emergency lighting and fire stopping in Cardiff
Why do you photograph the fire stopping?
Because it is hidden once the work is finished. Photos are evidence for you, the council and future surveys.
Can a lounge open onto the stair?
It depends on the layout and the risk assessment. Often the door needs to be a fire door, or the layout needs changing.
Do you carry out escape routes, emergency lighting and fire stopping across Cardiff?
Yes, across the whole of Cardiff, including Cardiff, Whitchurch.
Who licenses HMOs in Cardiff?
Cardiff council licenses HMOs in its area. Landlords must also register with Rent Smart Wales.
Other HMO services in Cardiff
- HMO fire safety upgrades in Cardiff
- Fire doors in Cardiff
- Fire alarm and detection systems in Cardiff
- Large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) in Cardiff
- Licence condition and schedule-of-works in Cardiff
- Commercial and above-shop to HMO in Cardiff
- EPC and energy upgrades in Cardiff
- Layout changes and room reconfiguration in Cardiff