There are new laws for landlords and letting agents to make sure their tenants are protected from the risks of legionella.
Landlords of residential accommodation have responsibilities for combating Legionnaires disease. Health and safety legislation requires that landlords carry out risk assessments for the legionella bacteria which cause Legionnaires’ Disease and thereafter maintain control measures to minimise the risk. Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) L8 (the legislation designed to stop the spread of legionnaire’s disease) states that a landlord and letting agent must by law have a risk assessment carried out on hot and cold water supplies or face a fine of up to £20,000.
Risk assessments
Landlords are under a duty to ensure that the risk of exposure to tenants, residents and visitors by legionella is properly assessed and controlled.
For most residential settings the risk assessment may well show the risks are low so long as simple control measures referred to in the next section are followed. This will apply to houses or flats with small domestic type water systems where the water turnover is high. Provided the risk assessment shows that the risks are insignificant and the control measures are being properly managed no further action would be necessary. It is important, however, to keep the assessment under review periodically in case anything changes to the system, or new tenants are housed.
Under L8 if a tenant falls ill or worse dies because of negligence, then the landlords are liable to be charged under the health and safety at work act.
D A Heating Limited offers legionella risk assessments for landlords.Once the risk assessment is completed a copy will be sent to the letting agent for their records as well placed on our records for an annual review.