We are Landlord Legionella Risk Assessment & PAT Testing specialists in Edinburgh. Once completed the Risk Assessment and PAT Certificate are emailed over to the customer in PDF format same day. Most customers can't believe we are offering both services for only £90+Vat. They tell us this is often half the cost of their Letting Agent for the same service and are happy they found us ! All reports and certificates can be issued in electronic format or for the old school landlords a hard copy can be issued instead.
We have pasted some information regarding Legionella below which you may find useful going forward. Remember we supply professional Landlord Legionella Risk Assessments in Edinburgh and the Lothians that are accepted by Letting Agents and Councils. If you need us to perform the Legionella Risk Assessment (LRA) for you please get in touch.
How is Legionella spread?
The most common way people get Legionnaires Disease is through inhaling very fine water droplets, also referred to as aerosol, from contaminated water systems. Most people don't know that Legionella actually cannot be caught by drinking tap water !
What are the symptoms of Legionnaires Disease?
The incubation period for Legionnaires Disease is between 2 and 10 days. Symptoms can present themselves as similar to that of flu and pneumonia so early detection is imperative. Common symptoms include: • High fever • Chills • Headache • Muscles pains • Dry cough • Difficulty breathing.
Who is most at risk?
Anyone who comes into contact with Legionella bacteria is at risk of contracting the disease, however there are groups who are classified as high risk groups. People over 45 years old. Smokers and heavy drinkers are at risk and people suffering from chronic respiratory or kidney disease and people with weak immune systems.
Please find information regarding Legionella and Legionnaires Disease on the NHS website https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/legionnaires-disease/
We have also pasted a link below to the Scottish Government website which states Scottish landlords (make sure you've carried out a Legionella Risk Assessment) www.mygov.scot/renting-your-property-out/your-responsibilities/
Once you have clicked the above link who will see the heading Legionella Risk Assessment. If you click this on the mygov.scot website it will take you to the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) website which provides lots of landlord legionella risk assessment information regarding what legionella actually is. The law regarding prevention measures and what you must do. This information can also be accessed directly by following the below link. http://www.hse.gov.uk/legionnaires/legionella-landlords-responsibilities.htm
SAL (Landlord Accreditation Scotland) have an interesting article on their website regarding Legionella Risk Assessment advise. Explaining how Landlords in Scotland must ensure a risk assessment has been carried out to determine the level of risk of the water in the rental property becoming contaminated with Legionella. This is the link :
Legionella Control also have a helpful article on their website called Landlords Guide to Managing Legionnaires Disease. This is the link https://legionellacontrol.com/guidance/landlords-guide-managing-legionnaires-disease/
Reviewing the legionella risk assessment if the risk assessment suggests there is no risk present or the risks are small ? If this is the case then no further action will be required at this stage and existing controls must be maintained. This is not the end of the process though as the legionella risk assessment should be reviewed regularly and specifically when there is reason to suspect it is no longer current. We suggest to our customers that they review their legionella risk assessment every two years unless something is highlighted to them within those time scales.
Has there been many Legionella outbreaks ?
Legionnaires Disease was brought to most of our attention (us old enough to remember) back in 1976 when it got into the air conditioning cooling towers of a hotel in Philadelphia, United States and killed 29 people mainly American Legion army veterans attending a gathering there. In total there were 182 people who became sick therefore it has the potential to have devastating outcomes.
Edinburgh worse legionella outbreak in Scotland:
Various reports indicate there were between 56 & 92 confirmed cases in the south-west of Edinburgh in the summer of 2012, in what was Scotland’s worst Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in more than a decade. There were 4 people that actually died from the legionella bacteria. There were also people left with scarred lungs as a result of pneumonia like symptoms caused by the Legionella bacteria. Therefore for people living or working in Edinburgh or anywhere else in Scotland it is vital we have legionella risk assessments carried out regularly.
National Landlords Association also have an interesting article regarding legionella risk assessments. The title is called How to protect your tenants and your property from Legionnaires’ Disease which can be seen by clink on the link below : https://landlords.org.uk/news-campaigns/blogs/how-protect-your-tenants-and-your-property-legionnaires-disease
Landlord Legionella Guidance
All water systems must be assessed for legionella risk, and private landlords must ensure this is carried out before the property is first let. The legionella risk assessment (LRA) should then be regularly reviewed at intervals of no more than two years. If a review of the risk assessment indicates that there has been a change to the risk factors then a new risk assessment should be carried out. Depending on the system in the property, private landlords may be able to carry this assessment out themselves if competent to do so, or it might be necessary to employ a competent assessor to do it.
In most residential settings, a simple assessment may show that the risks are low and no further action may be necessary. An example of a typical lower risk situation may be found in a house where:
daily water usage is inevitable and sufficient to turn over the entire system;
cold water is directly from a wholesome mains supply (no stored water tanks);
hot water is fed from instantaneous heaters or low volume water heaters (supplying outlets at 50 °C); and
Where the only outlets are toilets and wash hand basins.
If the assessment shows the risks are low and are being properly managed, the private landlord need take no further action but it is important that the assessment is reviewed regularly in case anything changes in the system.
To help control the risk of exposure to legionella landlords must:
Flush out the system prior to letting the property, if this has not been done within the previous two years;
Avoid debris getting into the system by ensuring the cold water tanks, where fitted, have a tight fitting lid;
Set control parameters where water is stored in the hot water tank at least 60°C; and
Make sure any redundant pipework and dead ends are identified and removed.
Private landlords must advise tenants of control measures put in place and of their responsibility to help ensure they are maintained. Tenants must be advised:
Not to adjust the temperature setting of the hot water tank;
To regularly clean and disinfect showerheads; and
Inform the landlord if the hot water is not heating properly or if there are any other problems with the system.
In situations where a privately let property is vacant for an extended period, steps must be taken to ensure water is not allowed to stagnate within the water system, by a suitable flushing regime or other measures such as draining the system. Remember a Legionella Risk Assessment (LRA) should be carried out regularly within a minimum of a 2 year period.
Now that you have read all this information regarding Legionella and the Legionella Risk Assessment process. Why not get in contact with Lothian PAT Testing as we can provide a really cost effective Legionella Risk Assessment in Edinburgh and Lothians
We are Legionella Risk Assessment approved Risk Assessors and our Legionella Risk Assessments are comprehensive and compliant for Landlords of Rental Properties.
Need a Landlord Legionella Risk Assessment (LRA) contact us today on Tel : 07570 080429 or email lothianpattesting@mail.com to make your booking !