Legionella Risk Assessment
Protecting Occupants from Waterborne Health Risks.

Yes. UK landlords have a legal duty under health and safety legislation to assess and control the risk of Legionella in rental properties where a foreseeable risk exists. While there is no legal requirement for a written assessment in every case, landlords must be able to demonstrate that the risk has been considered and managed appropriately.

Most residential and commercial properties require an assessment of their hot and cold water systems. Cooling towers, evaporative condensers and other complex systems may require a more specialist assessment and control programme.

A competent assessor inspects the water system, checks representative temperatures, identifies stagnation risks and reviews existing controls. The findings are recorded in a written report with prioritised recommendations.

Follow the prioritised recommendations in the report. Actions may include flushing, temperature adjustments, cleaning, monitoring or remedial changes to the water system, depending on the risk identified.

There is no fixed legal review period. However, the assessment should be reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes to the water system, changes in occupancy, or if the previous assessment is no longer considered valid. Many landlords choose to review assessments every two years as good practice, although the appropriate frequency depends on the property’s level of risk.

A Legionella risk assessment should be carried out by a competent person with appropriate knowledge, training and experience. Property Checks provides professional Legionella risk assessments in accordance with current UK guidance to help landlords and duty holders meet their responsibilities.

The cost of a Legionella risk assessment varies depending on the size and complexity of the property. Contact Property Checks for a tailored quotation based on your specific requirements.

The person responsible depends on the property. For rental properties, the landlord is responsible for assessing and managing the risk of Legionella. For commercial premises, the responsibility usually falls to the employer, building owner or other duty holder responsible for managing the water system.

Yes. Landlords should assess the risk of Legionella in all rental properties to determine whether any control measures are required. Most domestic properties present a relatively low risk, but the assessment helps demonstrate that the landlord has fulfilled their legal responsibilities and considered the safety of the water system.