Legionella Risk Assessment

Legionella is a hazardous bacteria found in water. The risk is higher in water stored at temperatures between 20 and 45 degrees and water tanks that contain stagnant or recirculated water.

If ingested, Legionella can cause Legionnaire's disease. It makes you seriously ill, causing high fevers, headaches, coughing and nausea, but can be treated easily with antibiotics.

Learn more about Legionella: A Guide To Landlord Legionella Risk Assessments

A Legionella risk assessment is as a safety inspection of your property's water system. It is not a legal requirement, however, it is strongly recommended in the government' How to Let guide.

Landlords have a duty to protect the health and safety of their tenants. This includes ensuring all water systems are safe and free of Legionella: a hazardous bacteria that can make tenant's seriously ill if ingested.

We will arrange for a qualified Legionella assessor to inspect your property's water supply for potential risks.

Although it is not a formal legal requirement like an EICR or Gas Safety Inspection, a Legionella risk assessment is recommended to landlords in the government's How to Let guide.

Landlords do, however, have a general responsibility and duty of care to their tenants that includes making sure there are no health and safety hazards in their rental property.

If ingested, Legionella can cause Legionnaire's disease and make your tenant very ill. A Legionella risk assessment is an ideal way of ensuring your water supply is safe to drink and use.

A Legionella assessor will inspect all water systems in your rental. The assessment itself will involve:

• Identifying potential hazards and the level of risk posed
• Identifying who is at risk
• Taking water temperatures
• Testing for limescale
• Putting adequate control measures in place to minimise the risk
• Recording the findings of the assessment
• Reviewing the assessment as needed

After your assessment, you will be provided with a report containing all the above information.

The duration of Legionella inspection varies depending on the size of the property and its water systems.

Your assessor will need time to take a digital temperature reading of every hot and cold tap, as well as conducting visual inspections of all taps and showerheads. This includes exterior taps and outdoor houses.

For example, a one-bed flat with one bathroom and a combi boiler could take 20 minutes, whereas a three-bed house with two bathrooms and a water tank could take an hour.