Legionella

Risk Assessment Review

The risk assessment should be reviewed at least on an annual basis. It is important to review the assessment periodically in case anything changes.

Tenants should be advised of any control measures put in place that should be maintained.

If a tenant were to contract Legionnaires’ disease from the water system in their home, the landlord may be liable to prosecution under HSWA, and would have to demonstrate to a court that they had fulfilled their legal duty, so it is important that they formally assess and control the risks.

In regards to Legionella you will also need to update the risk assessment when:

  • There are changes to the water system or its use.
  • There are changes to the use of the building in which the water system is installed.
  • New information about risk or control measures becomes available.
  • The result of checks indicate that the control measures are no longer effective.
  • There are changes to tenants or landlords.
  • A case of Legionnaires Disease or Legionellosis potentially associated with the system has been diagnosed.

If you are responsible for providing residential accommodation or for providing the water system in residential premises, then you have a responsibility to ensure that the risks from Legionella are properly assessed and controlled.

You should retain records of any monitoring, inspection, test or checks carried out, and their dates, for at least five years.