Legionella Risk Assessment
A Legionella Risk Assessment checks the hot and cold water systems of a property for conditions that allow Legionella bacteria to grow, and sets out what needs to be done to control the risk. It is a legal duty for landlords, employers and anyone who controls premises.
After the visit you receive a written risk assessment report with the risk rating, findings and recommended actions.
Book a Legionella Risk Assessment Online
- Fixed price shown before you book
- Houses, flats, HMOs, blocks of flats and commercial premises
- Written Legionella Risk Assessment report (HSE ACoP L8)
- Choose an appointment time that suits you
- Free cancellation up to 16 hours before the visit
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What type of property needs the Legionella Risk Assessment?
Legionella Risk Assessment Services
A Legionella Risk Assessment is an on-site review of the hot and cold water systems of a property to identify where Legionella bacteria could grow and spread, and what needs to be done to control the risk. Legionella causes Legionnaires' disease, a serious form of pneumonia, and the bacteria thrive in water stored between 20°C and 45°C, in tanks, cylinders, dead legs and outlets that are rarely used.
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the COSHH Regulations 2002 and the HSE Approved Code of Practice L8, anyone who controls premises, including landlords, employers and managing agents, has a duty to assess and control the risk of Legionella. There is no single legal "Legionella certificate": the written risk assessment report is the document that shows the duty has been met.
What the assessment covers
The assessor inspects the water system from the incoming mains to every outlet: cold water storage tanks, hot water cylinders or calorifiers, combi boilers, taps, showers, toilets and any little-used outlets. Temperatures are recorded (stored hot water should be at least 60°C, hot outlets should reach 50°C within a minute and cold water should stay below 20°C), the condition of tanks and showerheads is checked and the way the system is used is reviewed. For commercial premises a simple schematic of the system is included in the report.
Who needs one
- Landlords of houses, flats and HMOs — before a new tenancy and whenever the water system changes.
- Blocks of flats with communal cold water tanks or shared hot water systems.
- Businesses such as offices, shops, restaurants, salons and workshops.
- Higher-risk premises such as hotels, care homes, gyms and leisure centres: please call us for a tailored quote, as these usually need a wider scope and water sampling.
How the price is calculated
For homes the price depends on the number of bedrooms. For blocks of flats it depends on the number of flats sharing the water system. For commercial premises you pay a base price for the visit and the written report, plus a small amount for every toilet, washroom, kitchen and shower on site, so a small office pays less than a large workshop. The price you see is the price you pay: no call-out fees, no hidden extras.
What you receive
Within 1-3 business days you receive a written Legionella Risk Assessment report with the overall risk rating, the findings for each part of the system, recommended actions in order of priority and simple guidance for tenants or staff, such as flushing little-used outlets and descaling showerheads. The HSE recommends reviewing the assessment regularly and whenever the system or its use changes; most landlords repeat it every two years or at a change of tenancy.
Legionella Risk Assessment FAQs
Landlords have a legal duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act and the COSHH Regulations to assess and control the risk of Legionella in rented homes, as set out in the HSE Approved Code of Practice L8. A written risk assessment is the usual way to show the duty has been met.
There is no official Legionella certificate in the UK. You receive a written Legionella Risk Assessment report with the risk rating, findings and recommended actions, which is the document letting agents, tenants and insurers ask for.
A house or flat usually takes 30 to 60 minutes. Blocks of flats and commercial premises take longer depending on the number of outlets, tanks and cylinders to inspect.
The HSE recommends reviewing the assessment regularly and whenever the water system or the way it is used changes. Many landlords repeat it every two years or when a new tenancy starts.
Water sampling is not normally needed for houses, flats or low-risk commercial premises. If the assessor finds a reason for sampling, it will be recommended in the report.
Please make sure the assessor can access the loft or tank room, the airing cupboard or plant room, and every kitchen, bathroom and washroom. For blocks of flats and commercial premises, access to communal areas and tanks should be arranged in advance.