THE ANSWER, FIRST
A risk assessment and a water sample are different things. Establish the water-system risks and controls before assuming a testing package is needed.
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Who is responsibleYour next stepsBefore spending moneyWhat you can do yourselfPutting it into practiceRecords to keepWhen to reviewCommon questionsOfficial sourcesWho is responsible?
Employers and people in control of premises, including landlords, with responsibility for water systems.
Identify and assess sources of legionella risk, prevent or control exposure, manage the risks and keep the appropriate records.
START HERE
Your next three steps
- 1
Identify your water systems and who is responsible for them.
- 2
Assess the system, its use and anyone particularly vulnerable.
- 3
Put proportionate controls and monitoring in place.
BEFORE YOU PAY
Make sure you’re buying the right job
- Identify who controls the system and collect existing information.
- Explain periods of low use, stored water and any planned system changes.
- Ask what a proposed sample will tell you and why it is appropriate to this system.
Watch out: A water sample does not replace an assessment. HSE says domestic landlords do not need a legionella test certificate; sampling is not usually required for domestic hot and cold water systems.
Compare the whole cost of two quotesWhat can you do yourself?
HSE describes a proportionate approach to low-risk domestic rental systems. Some simple systems can be assessed by someone with an adequate understanding; more complex systems may require specialist help.
When to get competent help
Use competent advice if the system, its condition or its users make the risk unclear. Do not assume the low-risk domestic examples apply to a workplace cooling tower or a complex healthcare system.
Connect the assessment to everyday water-system management
Before you commission work
Locate existing assessments, system information and monitoring records. Ask the person maintaining the building about changes, unused areas and access restrictions. Tell the provider which tasks are done by staff and which are contracted out so their proposal can identify gaps or duplicated work.
Follow through on the result
Ask for the report to be explained to the person who will manage the actions. Confirm what happens when a planned task is missed or a finding needs escalation. Keep records accessible when staff or suppliers change. If a recommendation cannot be implemented as described, ask the competent provider to resolve that difficulty instead of silently changing the instruction.
Compare costs and decide what to buy
Use these buying guides to prepare your brief, check exclusions and compare the whole price.
Keep a useful record
Aim for information that helps the next person make a sound decision.
- The system assessed, responsibilities and significant findings.
- Any control scheme, monitoring and actions relevant to the risk.
- Changes in use, occupancy or system condition that may require review.
When to review it
Review the assessment regularly and when the system or its use changes. Controls depend on the assessment.
Ask a supplier to distinguish a legal deadline, a recommendation based on risk and a condition in your contract or insurance. They are not interchangeable.
Questions to put to a provider
- Why does our system need the proposed monitoring or sampling?
- Who will manage the controls after the assessment?
- Does the assessment cover periods of low use?
Common questions
Do domestic landlords need a legionella test certificate?
HSE says there is no such requirement for domestic landlords. They still need to assess and control legionella risks.
Does a clear water sample mean the risk is managed?
A sample is a result for a point in time. It does not establish whether responsibilities, system management and controls are adequate.
Check the official sources
Read the current guidance for the place where you operate. A link is not an endorsement of this website by the regulator.
Source-checked guidance. Specialist editorial sign-off is pending; this is not an assessment of your business. It does not cover every specialist activity or replace competent, case-specific advice.
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