Is Legionella Testing a Legal Requirement for Landlords

HSE and local authority inspectors do not proactively inspect residential spaces and do not require proof that homeowners have conducted a risk assessment. There are many companies that offer expert Legionella risk assessments that can be done on your property, but there is usually no reason why a homeowner should not do this risk assessment themselves as long as they are competent. Property managers and owners can manage everything from one property to several complex properties and locations. I tried to Google some cases where owners were sued for non-compliance, but to no avail, which wasn`t particularly surprising. I`m not saying it didn`t happen, but if Google is struggling to find cases, you can assume you`re more likely to be struck by lightning than a Wally to sue you for Legionnaires` disease. Symptoms of Legionnaires` disease can be like the flu, although not everyone with the disease becomes sick and most cases can be effectively treated with antibiotics; However, a minority of cases can result in death. Some people are particularly sensitive to the risk of Legionella, including the elderly, people with lung problems, and those with poor immune function. You can also run tests at regular intervals if necessary. As I said, while the HSE says you don`t need to record your recordings to get omitted, it`s probably a good idea to write them down to protect yourself from unappetizing (and obviously unlikely) lawsuits. So feel free to download the template I set up, but use 🙂 For a Legionnaires` disease risk assessment checklist, please visit our knowledge base. Typical costs range from around £250 for simple projects to £2,000 and up for sites with more complex requirements. HSE and local authority inspectors do not proactively inspect residential spaces and do not require proof that homeowners have conducted a risk assessment. However, if a tenant is infected with Legionnaires` disease through their home`s water system, the landlord can be sued under HSWA and will have to prove to a court that they have fulfilled their legal obligation, so it is important that they assess and control the risks (see www.hse.gov.uk/press/2010/coi-e-05.htm).

It is much easier to comply with the legal requirements for risk assessment and risk management related to Legionnaires` disease if you hire a professional to perform a risk assessment for Legionnaires` disease. and this may also include testing, if necessary. Even then, a regular weekly rinse of the water in the system would likely be enough to reduce the risk of Legionella to a manageable level. Since there is no prescribed timeline for conducting or reviewing testing, landlords should establish a reasonable assessment schedule based on the level of risk of their own property. Water systems that rely on combination boilers and instantaneous heating mechanisms pose less risk than the properties of conventional boilers or older piping. Let`s start with the story of Legionnaires` disease. Legionnaires` disease is a life-threatening form of pneumonia caused by Legionnaires` disease that settles in the lungs. As far as I know, and according to the HSE website, there is no legal obligation to keep a diary. This can seem very complicated, leading any homeowner to believe that to comply with their legal obligations under health and safety laws, they need the services of an “expert.” This is not necessarily the case. You can access a comprehensive detailed guide to the laws on the HSE website.

Feel free to fill your boots with this lush chatter. Enjoy. As a property manager, we have sought legal advice and can confirm that it is required by law that a full risk assessment be carried out. We can help them by organizing the following: Legionnaires` disease is a life-threatening form of pneumonia caused by Legionella settling in the lungs. There are more than 40 identified species of Legionella bacteria. People usually develop Legionnaires` disease by inhaling water droplets containing Legionella. This can be done, for example, by running a shower or faucet or by a hot tub or cooling towers. Contact us today on 0330 223 36 86 to discuss your own risk assessment requirements with a risk management specialist on our team. The symptoms of Legionnaires` disease are like the flu and not everyone exposed to Legionella gets sick.

The disease can be successfully treated with antibiotics such as erythromycin, but about 10-15% of cases lead to death. This also means that owners of residential and commercial premises must assess the risks of exposure to Legionella. You can then determine if expert help is needed, especially if the complexity of water supply systems goes beyond your basic Legionnaires` disease risk assessment skills. I bet most homeowners don`t know this, but it would be wise for you to want to discuss Legionella testing of your own hot and/or cold water system, call us today on 0330 223 36 86 to learn more about our cost-effective sampling and analysis services….