Legionella Risk Assessments for Landlords
As a landlord, you have a legal duty to assess and manage the risk of Legionella in your properties. It is not something you can ignore and hope for the best.
Legionella bacteria thrive in poorly managed water systems. A proper risk assessment tells
Legionella Risk Assessments for Landlords Enquiry Form
What Legionella Risk Looks Like in a Rental Property
Most landlords associate Legionella with large commercial buildings and cooling towers. The reality is that Legionella can develop in any water system where conditions allow it to grow, and residential rental properties are not exempt.
Water that sits stagnant in tanks or pipework, water stored or distributed at temperatures between 20 and 45 degrees Celsius, infrequently used outlets such as showers in spare rooms, and old or poorly maintained pipework all create the conditions Legionella needs. Tenants who are elderly, immunocompromised or unwell are particularly vulnerable to serious illness if exposed.
A risk assessment identifies these conditions in your specific property and gives you a clear picture of what needs to change.
Take a look at the rest of our Legionnaires Services here
What the Landlord Legionella Assessment Covers
Our Legionella risk assessments for landlords follow a structured process that looks at both the documentation side and the physical condition of your water systems.
On the administrative side we review any previous assessments, check your existing water management records and discuss how the property is used and occupied. This gives us the background we need before we inspect the property itself.
The physical inspection covers cold water storage tanks and their condition, hot water cylinders and the temperatures they are operating at, all water outlets including showers, taps and any infrequently used points, the condition and layout of pipework, and any areas where water could sit stagnant or where aerosols could form.
Every finding is documented with a clear risk rating and a recommendation for what action is needed and how urgently.
Contact The Legionnaires Team
What Does The Legionnaires Assessment Involve?
As Legionella experts, our trained engineers conduct thorough assessments of buildings and establishments, identifying and addressing potential Legionella-related issues efficiently.
Administrative checks:
- A thorough review of your current records.
- A thorough check of your previous assessments.
- A consultation with everyone involved in controlling the bacteria.
- A verification of management procedures and relevant paperwork.
- Risk level assessment of people in the building, focussing on the age and health considerations of anyone on site.
Tour of the site:
- A physical inspection of the water systems in your building.
- An inspection of any place where aerosols have potential to be created.
We create a comprehensive report which will be sent to you in PDF format. Our management regulatory compliance system for monthly water checks collects, stores, analyses and communicates Health, Safety and Environmental compliance records on demand.
Why Landlords Invest in Legionella Risk Assessing and Surveying?
Our assessors are experienced in carrying out Legionella risk assessments across all types of rental property from single lets through to large HMO portfolios. We produce clear, well-structured reports that meet the standard expected by local authorities, the HSE and insurers.
We work efficiently around your tenants and keep disruption to a minimum. If you manage multiple properties we can build a programme that keeps every assessment current without you having to manage each one individually.
Further Reading on Legionnaires Risk Assessing and Surveying Services
To understand how Legionnaires risk assessing and surveying can benefit your business, delve into the critical areas where professional expertise creates a tangible impact. From ensuring compliance with UK health and safety regulations to fostering a safer, more secure environment, gaining deeper insights equips you to excel in a competitive, safety-focused landscape.
Enterprise Centre, 14-40 Victoria Rd, Aldershot GU11 1TQ
Email: info@hsqeconsultancy.co.uk
Phone: 01252 214075
Frequently Asked Questions
Finding Legionella bacteria does not automatically mean your tenants are at serious risk, but it does mean you need to act quickly. We will advise you on the immediate steps to take, which typically involve flushing the system, reviewing temperatures and in some cases arranging for a water treatment specialist to carry out remediation. The risk assessment report will make the required actions clear.
The assessment involves a physical inspection of the water systems in the property. This is generally low-disruption and can usually be completed in a couple of hours depending on the size of the property. We will work with you to arrange access at a convenient time.
Yes. We work with individual landlords and with portfolio operators managing large numbers of properties. We can schedule assessments across your portfolio and provide consistent documentation that gives you a clear compliance picture across every property you manage.
A Legionella risk assessment is a formal evaluation of the water systems in your property to identify conditions that could allow Legionella bacteria to grow and spread. As a landlord, you have a legal duty of care under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations to manage this risk. Carrying out a risk assessment is the essential first step in demonstrating that duty of care.
There is no fixed legal interval, but the HSE recommends that assessments are reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes to the water system, the property, or its occupancy. In practice, most landlords arrange a review every two years as a minimum, with more frequent checks for higher-risk systems such as those with hot tubs, cooling towers, or complex pipework.
Yes. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is clear that private landlords are legally responsible for managing Legionella risk in their rental properties. Whilst there is no specific legislation requiring a written assessment in every case, the HSE strongly recommends one and local authorities can take enforcement action where landlords fail to demonstrate adequate risk management.
Our assessors will carry out a thorough inspection of all water systems within the property, including cold water storage tanks, hot water cylinders, pipework, taps, showerheads, and any other outlets. We check water temperatures, identify any areas of stagnation or dead legs in the pipework, review insulation, and assess any equipment that could create aerosols. Following the inspection, we produce a detailed written report with findings and any recommended control measures.
For a standard residential property, the on-site inspection typically takes between one and three hours. Larger or more complex properties, or those with multiple water systems, will take longer. We will give you an estimated duration when you book so you can plan access with your tenants accordingly.
Properties with combi boilers and no cold water storage tanks are generally considered lower risk because water is heated on demand and does not sit in a tank. However, a risk assessment is still advisable to identify any other potential risk factors such as showerheads, infrequently used outlets, or garden water features. We can advise you on the appropriate level of assessment for your specific property.
Recommended control measures will depend on the findings of the assessment, but commonly include ensuring hot water is stored and distributed at safe temperatures, removing or insulating dead legs in pipework, cleaning and descaling showerheads, flushing infrequently used outlets regularly, and fitting appropriate insulation to cold water pipework to prevent warming. We will prioritise any recommendations by risk level so you know what needs to be addressed urgently.
Tenants can assist with simple day-to-day precautions such as running taps and showers regularly, particularly after a period of absence, and reporting any concerns about water temperature or water quality. However, the formal risk assessment and any subsequent remediation must be carried out by a competent person. As the landlord, responsibility for compliance rests with you, not your tenants.
The written risk assessment report we produce is your primary evidence of compliance. We recommend keeping this alongside records of any remedial actions taken and any subsequent re-assessments. Many letting agents now request sight of a current Legionella risk assessment as part of their landlord onboarding process, and having a clear, professionally produced report makes that process straightforward.
Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) can carry a higher Legionella risk due to more complex water systems, greater variation in usage patterns, and the potential for extended periods of low or no use on individual outlets. HMO landlords should treat Legionella risk management as a priority and ensure assessments are carried out by a qualified assessor with experience of multi-occupancy properties.
Getting started is straightforward. Simply get in touch with us to discuss your property and we will provide a quote and arrange a convenient time for the assessment. We cover a wide range of locations and can accommodate portfolio landlords requiring multiple assessments. Contact us today to ensure your property is fully compliant.