Why it matters
What Legionella Risk Assessment means for a landlord
Legionella is a low-probability, high-consequence hazard, an outbreak is rare but a death is prosecutable under HSE legislation. Most small residential properties are low-risk (cold water tanks drained, regular use) but the landlord still has to produce a dated written assessment showing they considered it. A one-page risk assessment kept in the property file closes the duty.
Worked example
How it plays out
Beth takes over a house in Exeter that has been empty for two months. Before the tenant moves in, she runs every tap and the shower for several minutes to flush the system, checks the hot water from the combination boiler runs hot quickly, and writes a short risk assessment noting the simple system and the flushing. She gives the tenant plain advice on keeping the showerhead clean and reporting any problems with hot water.
Common mistakes
Where landlords go wrong
- 01Believing a legionella test certificate is required, when the duty is to assess and control the risk.
- 02Not flushing the water system after the property has stood empty.
- 03Leaving an unused shower or tank in the system.
- 04Having no written record that the risk was considered.
What to do
A short checklist
- Write a short risk assessment for each property.
- Flush taps and showers after any empty period.
- Remove redundant pipework or tanks where practical.
- Give tenants basic advice on hot water and showerheads.
