Legionella risk assessments for your let property

Local authorities are now requiring written copies of legionella risk assessments when landlords renew their registration. Short term lets will also be required to have a legionella risk assessment in the near future. Are you ready?

What’s required?

All private residential lettings must have a legionella risk assessment (LRA), a requirement which has been in place for some time. However, until recently the only check on this having been undertaken was during landlord registration, and it only involved a tick box to say it was done. This procedure has now changed, with Argyll and Bute Council now requiring a copy of the LRA as part of the renewal application. (This is required alongside an EPC, Electrical Installation Condition Report, Portable Appliance Testing report and gas safety certificate).

A licensing scheme for short term lettings is due to come into force sometime from October 2022. The criteria will bring in similar requirements for short term lettings as currently apply to residential lettings, including legionella precautions. You're advised to keep a record of the LRA although that won’t be compulsory.

Whether your property is let for the short or long term it’s permitted to undertake the LRA yourself and you may favour that approach, especially if you have a good knowledge of Water Byelaws. However, many landlords prefer to delegate the job to an experienced assessor.

The benefit of a Clarity Safety Solutions assessment

Our legionella risk assessment service ensures that you have a detailed, professional assessment of the risk of legionnaire’s disease arising from your hot and cold water system. Applying both practical experience and knowledge, we will produce a report and prioritised action plan for your property, describing any improvements required.

Our clients have benefitted in more ways than one: we have often been the first to look at attic water tanks and other features for some time, and as a result, have saved residents from future flooding, dangerous levels of tank contamination, and more.

Practicalities

We work in the Oban area and surroundings, to a maximum travel time of about one hour in each direction. Given good notice, we may be able to visit island properties as well.

You can ask us to carry out other risk assessments alongside the LRA including those for fire safety and general risks. This service is often used by our short term letting clients.

For a no obligation quote, please message us here: claritysafety@claritysafety.co.uk

Further information:

Short term lets - licensing scheme part 1: guidance for hosts and operators - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Legionnaires' disease - Legionella and landlords' responsibilities (hse.gov.uk)