Residential Legionella Risk Assessment

As a landlord or a letting agent in control of a private rented property, it's your responsibility to ensure that your tenants are protected against the risk of contracting Legionnaire's Disease. This potentially fatal form of pneumonia is caused by inhaling droplets of water which are contaminated with legionella bacteria. This bacteria is most active in areas where scale and rust have built up and is allowed to spread via aerosols produced from showers and taps. In order to ensure that you're complying with your legal obligations, you must carry out a risk assessment in order to identify and assess potential sources of risk.

The full extent of legislative requirements and guidance in relation to all legionella control is set out in the following documents:

 

·       The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

·       The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations

·       The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations and amendments

·       HSE ACoP L8 Legionnaires’ disease - The Control of Legionella Bacteria in Water Systems

·       HSE HSG 274 Parts 1 to 2 inclusive – The Control of Legionella Bacteria in Hot and Cold Water systems

How to Carry out a Risk Assessment

Fortunately, there's help at hand when it comes to carrying out a risk assessment. UK company AquaB is able to provide full administration and specialist support in order to ensure that you're meeting your legal responsibilities. The team can undertake a risk assessment in your property as well as carrying out a water analysis in order to identify the actual presence and scale of legionella bacteria. To learn more about AquaB, visit the website or call 0800 035 8385 to speak to one of the team.