One of Britain's biggest letting agencies is advising others in the industry - agents and landlords alike - to check they are up to date with new legal responsibilities regarding legionnaires' disease.
CKD Galbraith, which lets around 1,000 properties a year in Scotland, says the legal position on both sides of the border now means all those in control of premises and with health and safety responsibilities for others, must take precautions to prevent or control the risk of legionella.
Legionellosis is the collective name given to the pneumonia-like illness caused by legionella bacteria. This includes the most serious legionnaires' disease, as well as the similar but less serious conditions of Pontiac fever and Lochgoilhead fever.
Back in April the Health and Safety Executive issued hefty 65-page guidelines, many of which apply in the residential context and form the responsibilities for letting agents and landlords.
CKD Galbraith says the primary method used to control the risk from Legionella is water temperature control:
- Hot water storage cylinders should store water at 60C or higher
- Hot water should be distributed at 50C or higher
- Cold what should be stored and distributed below 20C
- Showerheads and taps should be cleaned regularly to remove limescale and algae
- Stagnant water favours Legionella growth. Dead end pipe work should be removed and infrequently used outlets should be flushed out at least weekly to reduce the risk.
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Comments
I am disappointed to see that your article contains a serious factual error. The law (HSW and COSHH) has not changed; therefore legal duties have not changed. HSEs new (newish early 2014) guidance HSG274 is just that: guidance only. It gives suggestions as to how you might meet your legal duties. HSE is clarifying the legal position not changing it (and couldn't change it without a change in legislation). In fact even the guidance in HSG274 is not new as it follows the non-published guidance HSE has been giving for several years. I welcome its inclusion in HSG274 as questions from landlords are amongst the one's I am asked most. We must take seriously the difference between legal duties and guidance since, a) it gives companies a false idea of what they MUST do; and, b) it is the main reason the public believe health and safety is over the top.