Can A Landlord Carry Out Their Own Legionella Risk Assessment In Doncaster?
Many landlords in Doncaster are now becoming more aware of their legal responsibilities regarding Legionella risk assessments.
At the same time, there has been growing interest in low-cost online “tick-box” assessments that claim to help landlords stay compliant.
But an important question is often overlooked:
If something goes wrong, would that assessment later be considered suitable and sufficient in court?
The answer depends largely on competence.
Under UK health and safety law, landlords and duty holders remain responsible for assessing and controlling the risk of Legionella bacteria within their properties.
While landlords can carry out their own assessment in some circumstances, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) makes clear that anyone managing Legionella risks must have sufficient knowledge, training, experience, and understanding of the water system involved.
What Does The HSE Say About Competence?
The official Health and Safety Exexutive guidance states:
“The person you appoint needs to have sufficient authority, competence, necessary skills, knowledge of the system and experience of the system to properly undertake the measures needed to control the risk.”
The HSE also says:
“If you are not competent, you should get help.”
This guidance forms part of ACOP L8, the nationally recognised Approved Code of Practice used during investigations and enforcement action involving Legionella control.
For landlords in Doncaster, this means the focus should not simply be on obtaining paperwork. The important issue is whether the assessment genuinely identifies and controls real-world risks within the property’s water system.
Why Cheap Online Legionella Assessments Can Be Misleading
There is nothing wrong with landlords wanting to learn more about Legionella compliance. In fact, proper Legionella Responsible Person training can help landlords and duty holders better understand their legal responsibilities and how Legionella risks develop within real water systems.
However, there is a significant difference between:
- completing a generic online checklist,
and: - carrying out a competent Legionella risk assessment on a real property.
Many Legionella risks are not immediately obvious.
A low-cost online assessment may fail to identify:
- Dead legs in pipework
- Poorly insulated cold water tanks
- Incorrect hot water temperatures
- Infrequently used outlets
- Redundant plumbing
- Shower head contamination risks
- Water systems that encourage bacterial growth
These are practical issues that often require experience and understanding to recognise properly.
What Happens If A Tenant Becomes Ill?
Legionnaires’ disease is a potentially fatal form of pneumonia caused by inhaling contaminated water droplets.
If a tenant becomes seriously ill, investigators are unlikely to focus only on whether a form was completed.
More important questions may follow:
- Was the assessment suitable and sufficient?
- Were genuine risks identified?
- Was the water system properly understood?
- Could the person carrying out the assessment demonstrate competence?
Courts and investigators do not simply look for paperwork. They look at whether reasonable precautions were taken and whether risks were properly assessed and controlled.
Landlords In Doncaster Still Remain Responsible
One of the biggest misunderstandings surrounding cheap online Legionella assessments is the belief that purchasing a checklist somehow transfers responsibility elsewhere.
It does not.
Landlords in Doncaster and across the UK remain legally responsible for managing Legionella risks within their properties.
That responsibility includes ensuring that any assessment carried out is appropriate for the specific water system involved.
Professional Legionella Risk Assessments In Doncaster
At Legionella Assessors, assessments are carried out by an experienced Doncaster Legionella risk assessor with practical knowledge of domestic and commercial water systems.
Assessments include:
- Hot and cold water temperature testing
- Inspection of stored water systems
- Identification of dead legs and infrequently used outlets
- Assessment of shower heads and spray risks
- Practical recommendations to reduce risk
- A written report suitable for landlord compliance records
The focus is not simply on producing paperwork.
The aim is to help landlords in Doncaster properly understand and reduce genuine health risks within their properties.
You can read more about how Legionella risk assessments should be carried out properly here.If you are looking for professional Legionella risk assessments in Doncaster, you can learn more here:
Legionella Risk Assessments Across Doncaster And South Yorkshire
We provide Legionella risk assessments throughout Doncaster and surrounding areas including:
- Bessacarr
- Armthorpe
- Balby
- Bentley
- Wheatley
- Rossington
- Edenthorpe
- Tickhill
- Conisbrough
- Mexborough
As a local Doncaster Legionella assessor, we understand the types of domestic and commercial water systems commonly found across South Yorkshire properties.
Competence Matters Because People’s Health Matters
Legionella bacteria cannot be seen, smelt, or tasted.
In many cases, problems remain hidden until somebody becomes seriously ill.
That is why Legionella risk assessments should never be treated as “just another form.”
They are a public health responsibility designed to protect vulnerable people from a disease that can, and does, kill.
References
HSE – Managing Legionella Risks
https://www.hse.gov.uk/legionnaires/what-you-must-do/manage-the-risk.htm
HSE Approved Code of Practice L8
https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l8.htm
