Legionnaires risk assessment when letting

eamon

I accept the Legionella is a life threatening infection. But what the HSE have done is scaremongering to say the least. The odds of getting it are very low
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Legionnaires-disease/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Takeaway_Addict

Yay more red tape!!!

Give me more please!!!

unclebulgaria

Just to clarify.
It is not compulsory for you to have a Legionella risk assessment!
The only mandatory requirement on the LL's behalf is the health, safety and welfare of the tenants.
The Legionella inspection is an advisory point from the HSE and nothing else.
I am 100% sure about this as I have it confirmed by email from the HSE.
It is always a good idea to cover your own back in respect of the possibility that your tenant will contract Legionella especially if your tenants have health issues that would leave them more susceptible to the bacteria.
If you have a hot water cylinder and cold water storage tank and its old get it checked to be safe but don't allow anyone to tell you its compulsory because its not.
Also cold tanks with no lids, central heating feed and expansion tanks sittings above or next to an uncovered cold water storage tank, tanks with oily film on the surface of the water, tanks with excessive debris or insects and central heating feed and expansion tanks with a thick film of mould on top of the water. All these need attention, please don't be kidding yourself that these checks are easy to do, they aren't. I recently carried out a check for a landlord who was a "qualified engineer" and had completed his own but his wife wanted to be sure. He had missed a multitude of problems. The HSE only requires that you are competent to carry out these checks, if you carry out your own without ensuring your competency its you who will be held responsible.

warthog_78

Thanks for all your responses. It's a very old house with an old system so I may take this more seriously. Thanks again.

laskes

Hi guys, I received the same email from my letting agent today. Quick search on google revealed lots of confused people (some of whom have been advised about it in 2013). Why is my agent two years behind the news? What is everyone doing? Ignoring this or paying an expert to get this done (the agent recommended someone, obviously). I live too far from the property to carry out the assessment myself. Thank you

G_M

laskes wrote: »

.... What is everyone doing? Ignoring this or paying an expert to get this done (the agent recommended someone, obviously).

Take a look at the very helpful 14 posts above your own....

Mercurial

I got an email from my letting agent last week as I'm overseas this is the first I've heard about it. From what I've read online councils will not be carrying out these tests on their properties, so why is it only private landlords that are requested to do this? My agent want £125 for a certificate which will last two years. The first thing I thought was the LA getting a nice commission or maybe I am just cynical?

AlwaysHappy

I'm late to the party - just had a letter from my property management company regarding this. When I phoned them the lady on the phone said it is a legal requirement but lots of their landlords were declining to have it done as it "can open a whole can of worms" when I asked for clarification she said it could mean i have to have a lot of work done in a very short space of time. I'm completely at a loss as to what to do now as she seems to be contradicting herself. Has anyone had any major problems since their assessments, or are most of you choosing to not have it done for now?

SerialRenter

My letting agent phoned up and stated to us that they were now legally required to test our water system for Legionella, as well as fit all sorts of other HSE bits and bobs, such as fire escape signs, PIR lighting near the fire escapes, self closing front door, etc etc.

Being a cynic i'm assuming that the letting agents forgot to mention to the landlord that they may not be compulsory. Probably a good little earner if they got most of their landlords to comply.

Oh well, can't complain, thats one less light switch i have to press on the way out of the building.

booksurr

SerialRenter wrote: »

My letting agent phoned up and stated to us that they were now legally required to test our water system for Legionella, as well as fit all sorts of other HSE bits and bobs, such as fire escape signs, PIR lighting near the fire escapes, self closing front door, etc etc.

Being a cynic i'm assuming that the letting agents forgot to mention to the landlord that they may not be compulsory. Probably a good little earner if they got most of their landlords to comply.

Oh well, can't complain, thats one less light switch i have to press on the way out of the building.

yes many of those things you mention are predicated by the size and type of your house (eg HMO) not the fact that it is let and certainly not because a LA scents a commission earning opportunity

legionnaire risk assessment however is compulsory but as shown by the many posts above a risk assessment is not the same as doing works!