BEFORE YOU REQUEST A QUOTE
Ask what each part of the water-safety quote is intended to establish. A risk assessment, a sample result and an ongoing monitoring service are different deliverables and should be explained separately.
In this buying guide
Describe the water system and how it is usedAsk why sampling has been proposedCompare the ongoing service with your own resourcesRequire a usable handoverAvoid buying a certificate without understanding its purposeQuestions for providersDescribe the water system and how it is used
Provide available system information and explain the building use, occupancy and periods of low use. Identify who controls shared plant and who can provide access. Mention changes, vacant areas and existing findings. If you cannot describe the system reliably, say so and ask how the provider will establish the scope. A list of taps alone may not explain the system they need to assess.
Ask why sampling has been proposed
Request a separate description of the assessment, any proposed samples and the question those samples will answer. Ask how results will be interpreted, who receives them and what further work might follow. HSE places assessment and control of risk at the centre of the duty. A laboratory result should not be sold as a substitute for understanding the system and its management.
Compare the ongoing service with your own resources
If a provider proposes monitoring, ask for a task schedule, named responsibilities and the arrangements for exceptions. Establish what your staff would do and what needs specialist input. Include training, absence cover, record access and the response to an abnormal finding in the comparison. The cheapest routine visit offers little clarity if nobody knows what happens between visits.
Require a usable handover
Agree that the report identifies the system assessed, its limitations and recommended actions in a form the responsible manager can use. Ask for the distinction between actions included in the agreed fee and later proposals. Keep the initial assessment available when reviewing a renewal so you can see whether the ongoing service still matches the premises and the current arrangements.
Avoid buying a certificate without understanding its purpose
For domestic landlords, HSE specifically says there is no requirement to obtain a legionella testing certificate. That is not an exemption from assessing and controlling risk, and it should not be extrapolated to complex systems. Ask the provider to describe what the service does, rather than treating the word certificate as a complete explanation of need.
Questions to include in your quote request
Send the same brief to each provider, and ask them to identify assumptions and exclusions in their reply.
- What system and areas are included in the assessment?
- Why is each proposed sample needed?
- Who acts on findings between routine visits?
- Can we retain and export all assessment and monitoring records?
Common buying questions
Does a water sample include the risk assessment?
Only if the written scope expressly includes both. Ask for each deliverable and its purpose to be identified.
Should we automatically renew the same package?
Review the system, occupancy, findings and responsibilities first. Ask which tasks remain appropriate and what has changed.
Check the requirement before buying
These source-linked safety guides explain scope and jurisdiction. They remain drafts pending specialist review.
- Do I need a legionella assessment or a water test? — England, Wales, Scotland
Official sources behind the distinctions
Sources checked 3 November 2026. Our quote-comparison suggestions are editorial guidance; these organisations do not endorse providers or this website.
This is purchasing guidance, not an assessment of your premises, technical approval or an interpretation of your contract. We do not publish unverified market-price ranges. Ask for a written quote for your actual scope.
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