Testing your property for legionella

Recently, we have received some questions about Legionella. Our team have done research on the subject and have put together some useful information for landlords. Please see our guide regarding assessing your properties risk.

What is legionella?

Legionnaires’ disease is a potentially fatal form of pneumonia. Everyone is susceptible to infection, but the risk is increases with age and in people suffering from pre-existing health conditions.

The bacterium, Legionella pneumophila, are widespread in natural water systems (e.g., rivers and ponds) but can also be found in purpose-built water systems such as hot and cold-water systems and spa pools where the water is maintained at a temperature high enough to encourage growth.

Assessing your property

Some properties will have a higher risk than others, so, we would recommend considering:

1. When was the water supply last used?
2. Do you have an open tank?
3. Do you have disused pipework?

To combat the likelihood of legionella and prove you have carried out a risk assessment of the property we recommended that a landlord:

1. Flush the water system thoroughly by running all taps.
2. Ensure that any water tanks have tightly closed lids.
3. Store the water at 60 degrees to kill the bacteria.
4. Remove any disused pipework as water can stagnate in the pipework and bacteria can grow.
5. Make sure you inform the tenant of how to keep themselves safe.

Testing kits

You can buy testing kits, here. You need test kit 001.

Instructions are provided with the bottle, but all you need to do is take a sample from as many taps as you like (we would recommend taking three, one from the kitchen, the downstairs toilet sink and the upstairs bathroom sink) and ensure you fill the bottle.

The sample should be taken from the hot tap/ hot setting, and it wants to capture the very first water out of the tap (whether it comes out hot or not). You can then post this back to the lab with the self-addressed envelope and await your results. It takes around two weeks to process the sample and return the results. At this point, you will be provided with a certificate of compliance and further instruction if Legionella is present.

If you feel that the house is at high risk then consider getting a professional contractor to undertake an assessment, I recommend this where properties have been left unused for some time.

The penalties for someone contracting legionella in your property can be hefty. £20,000 fine or even imprisonments so it may be worth undertaking a risk assessment and keeping a log of when and how it was undertaken, for your tenant’s peace of mind.