Clarification of your legal obligations.
06 October 2015.
For the avoidence of any doubt the House of Commons have issued a new peper on the 1st October making the requirements crystal clear.
Be in no doubt, You must undertake this simple assessment. Our system helps you comply for just £14.95.
It is important to understand the difference between a 'Legionella Test Certificate' (not required) and a 'Legionella Risk Assessment' (legally required)
From the HSE.Gov website: Case 357:
Some consultants & letting agents misinterpreting landlords responsibilities regarding legionella risks to their tenants.
The Issue
Some consultants and letting agents are using the revised L8 ACOP to suggest that new legislation has been imposed on landlords of domestic rented properties in relation to assessing and controlling the risks of exposure to Legionella bacteria of their tenants.
This is wrong, the legislation has not been changed and any misinterpretation/misunderstanding can impose unnecessary financial burdens on landlords where they are being charged for legionella testing and certificates they don’t actually need.
Panel Opinion.
- Whilst there is a legal duty for landlords to assess and control the risk of exposure to legionella bacteria, Health and Safety law does not require landlords to produce a ‘Legionnaires testing certificate'.
- Legionella testing (or sampling) is generally not required in domestic hot and cold water systems and then only in exceptional circumstances.
- Misinterpretation of the legal requirements by some consultants and letting agents about landlords responsibilities to manage and control legionella in domestic premises may result in unnecessary financial burdens being placed on landlords and tenants.
So please be clear. If someone tells you you need a Legionella 'Test Certificate' this is incorrect and can be very expensive.
Testing for legionella involves taking samples of water and sending them to a laboratory for testing. This is not required in domestic rental properties.
What you must have is a Legionella 'Risk Assessment' which is what we provide here at The LRA Register.
A risk assessment is legally required. This involves assessing the property to see if there is a 'RISK' of legionella forming in the water system.
Link to HSE.gov document.
A landlord is anyone who rents out a property they own under a tenancy agreement that is shorter than seven years. Landlords' duties apply to a wide range of accommodation, occupied under a lease or a licence, which includes residential premises provided for rent.
As a landlord, or a person in control of the rental premises, you are responsible for health and safety and need to take the right precautions to reduce the risks of exposure to legionella.
Carrying out a legionella risk assessment is your responsibility. If you use our simple step by step procees you will be able to carry out the assessment yourself.
When completed, a copy of your legionella risk assessment should be given to your tenant as it contains paractical advice on how to keep the water system safe.
Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSWA) makes provision for relevant health and safety legislation to apply to landlords to ensure a duty of care is shown to their tenants’ with regard to their health and safety. The general duties require under section 3(2) that "It shall be the duty of every self-employed person to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that he and other persons (not being his employees) who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety.". Landlords, under Section 53 of HSWA are regarded as being self-employed and tenants fall into the class of “other persons (not being his employees)”. If you rent out a property, you have legal responsibilities to ensure you conduct your undertaking in such a way that your tenant(s) are not exposed to health and safety risks.
This is not an option - You must carry out a Legionella Risk Assessment.
The law is clear that if you are a landlord and rent out your property (or even a room within your own home) then you have legal responsibilities to ensure the health and safety of your tenant by keeping the property safe and free from health hazards.
CLEAR SIMPLE PRICING
Single Property
Legionella Risk Assessment
£14.95
THROUGHOUT 2025
User Reviews
26.09.2015 Neil Turrell | Essex Property Management & Lettings Ltd |
This is a great website, easy to understand, easy to follow and allows landlords or Letting Agents to quickly comply with the new legislation at a competitive price . Will be using the service to do assessments on 30 Properties . |
Professional Layout
Your Landlord Legionella Risk Assessment will be emailed to you in PDF format. The professional layout gives advice and guidance to your tenant and fully satisfies the legal obligations now in place for landlords.
A copy of the report will also be kept on our register in case you ever need it. You can download a copy at any time and we will also send you a reminder in 24 months when you need to complete the assessment again.
Get complete peace of mind with full compliance of the new legal requirements for just £14.95 per property.
Our Legionella Risk Assessment template is written by qualified Legionella Risk Assessors and is updated when required.
If you do not wish to do the assessment yourself you can visit www.lraregister.com where you will find a directory of trained legionella risk assessors who will be able to help you.
If you are a letting agent and would like to become a member of the LRA Registers and have your own branded legionella risk assessment assessment template please register for an account. Please enquire from the top right menu and admin will contact you.
Stay Legal for £14.95
Understand your legal obligations.
You must have a 'Legionella Risk Assessment' which is what we provide here at The LRA Register.
From the hse.gov.uk website
Case 357: Some consultants & letting agents are misinterpreting landlords responsibilities regarding legionella risks to their tenants.
Please be clear. If someone says that you need a Legionella Test Certificate this is incorrect and can be very expensive. 'Testing' for legionella is not required.
What you must have is a 'Legionella Risk Assessment' which is what we provide here at The LRA Register.
Landlords or their letting agent can follow our step by step guide to produce their own assessments.
The system guides you through the process and provides an assessment for your tenant which enables you to comply with your legal duties for just £12.95