Legionella risk assessment for landlords in England

In short: landlords must assess the risk of their tenants being exposed to legionella and control it [1]. For most homes this is a simple assessment that you can do yourself [1]. Testing is not usually needed, and there is no such thing as a legally required "legionella certificate" [1].

Where the duty comes from

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) says landlords who rent out property have legal responsibilities to make sure their tenants are not exposed to health and safety risks, including legionella [1]. The duty comes from the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 [4] and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), which treat legionella as a biological agent whose risk must be identified, assessed and controlled [1][5].

How detailed the assessment needs to be

HSE says the duty to assess does not require an in-depth, detailed assessment. A simple assessment may show there are no real risks, or that they are being properly managed, and no further action is needed [1].
Most landlords can assess the risk themselves and don't need to be professionally trained or accredited. If you don't feel competent, you can arrange for someone else to do it [1].
Testing or sampling for legionella is not usually required for domestic hot and cold water systems [1].
Health and safety law does not require landlords to obtain or produce a "legionella test certificate" [1].

What to look at

Legionella bacteria grow in water at the temperatures found in many hot and cold water systems, particularly where water stands still [1][2]. In a rented home, check for:

water that can stagnate, such as little-used outlets, dead legs and redundant pipework
a cold water tank, and whether it has a tight-fitting lid to keep debris out
how hot the hot water is stored, if there is a hot water cylinder
showers, and how long the property has stood empty.

Simple control measures

HSE lists these as typical controls for a rented home [1]:

Flush the system before letting the property
Keep debris out, for example by making sure any cold water tank has a tight-fitting lid
Store hot water at 60°C by setting the hot water cylinder's temperature
Remove any redundant pipework you find.

HSE's wider guidance for hot and cold water systems says hot water should be stored at 60°C or more and reach at least 50°C at the outlets within a minute [2].

Tell your tenants

HSE says tenants should be told about the control measures they need to keep up [1]:

not to turn down the temperature setting on the hot water cylinder
to clean and disinfect showerheads regularly
to tell you if the hot water isn't heating properly or there's another problem with the system.

Empty properties

Water stands still while a property is empty. HSE's landlord guidance includes extra actions for properties left vacant, such as flushing the system through before a new tenant moves in [1].

Records and reviews

Keep the assessment under review in case anything changes, such as new tenants, building work or a new boiler. The law doesn't set a fixed review period such as every year or two [1].

Only employers with 5 or more employees have a legal duty to record the significant findings of a risk assessment, but HSE suggests it is wise to keep a record of what you've done [1][3]. A dated note in your property file is enough to show what you checked and what you changed.

The free compliance calendar and certificate tracker keep your other safety dates in one place. Gas safety is a separate legal duty: see gas safety certificates.

Related tools and guides

Common questions

Do landlords need a legionella certificate?

No. HSE says health and safety law does not require landlords to obtain or produce a legionella test certificate, and testing is not usually needed for domestic hot and cold water systems.

Can I do the legionella risk assessment myself?

Yes. HSE says most landlords can assess the risk themselves and don't need to be professionally trained or accredited. If you don't feel competent, you can get someone else to do it.

How often should a legionella risk assessment be reviewed?

The law doesn't set a fixed period. HSE says to review it periodically in case anything changes.

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Sources

General information, not legal advice. Checked against HSE guidance on 3 October 2026. Rules change, so always confirm with HSE.