After reading our cost guide, you’ll stop wondering how much a Legionella risk assessment costs. After all, a Legionella risk assessment is a legal requirement for landlords, property managers, estate agents, and business owners. Legionella testing could prevent the dangerous Legionnaires disease.
A sufficient assessment ensures substances hazardous to the health and safety of personnel, renters, or the public aren’t present in hot or cold water storage tanks. Discover the potential costs involved with Legionella risk assessments and the importance of conducting a Legionella test and water testing.
What is a Legionella Risk Assessment?
A qualified professional uses the Legionella risk assessment (LRA) to determine whether the potentially dangerous Legionella bacteria exists in hot water and cold water tanks. Legionella bacteria is a potentially life-threatening bacterium that thrives in certain water systems, even in water droplets.
Legionnaires disease becomes a serious risk if businesses and property managers don’t conduct a Legionella test on any water system provided to consumers, personnel, or the public. Legionnaires disease is a form of pneumonia that could be fatal, especially in the immune-suppressed population.
Do I need a Legionella risk assessment? Let’s discover the legalities and responsibilities associated with a Legionella test when supplying water in rental properties to answer, whether you’re leasing domestic or commercial properties to individuals or have staff working on site.
Is a Legionella Risk Assessment a Legal Requirement in the UK and US?
Is a Legionella risk assessment a legal requirement? Indeed, owning or renting property to anyone else in the UK, US, or any other EU country makes you responsible for specific health and safety standards. Identifying potential risks is a massive part of being the property manager, agent, or owner.
Legionella testing is part of the legal responsibilities of any business owner, property manager, landlord, or estate agent providing water services to ensure safe hot and cold water systems. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) cites multiple legal requirement acts for employers and property managers in the UK and US.
Legal Responsibilities for UK Property Owners and Managers
The Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974 (HSWA), clearly states that owners are responsible for the prevention of Legionella bacteria in water assets. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations of 1999 outlines specific guidelines for employers to ensure safe water systems.
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations Act of 2002 (COSHH) provides frameworks business owners, property managers, and landlords could implement to conduct regular Legionella risk assessments in compliance with UK Health and Safety Legislation.
The UK Legionella Control Association (LCA) outlines the LCA Code of Conduct and LCA Service Standards for members to ensure water systems are approved for health and safety legislation. Legionella risk assessments are the legal responsibilities of anyone managing or owning property.
Meanwhile, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) states that the failure to report new, changed, or discontinued cooling towers could result in penalties under the Notification of Cooling Towers and Evaporative Condensers Regulations Act of 1992.
The HSE also recommends that control measures must be implemented following a Legionella risk assessment for any spa pools. Commercial property owners and managers also have legal responsibilities related to hotels and other areas containing spa pools.
Business owners, landlords, and property managers often source UKAS-accredited professionals to conduct a Legionella test in a UKAS-accredited laboratory to ensure compliance. Using compliant risk assessment tools like Velappity, with access to the necessary documents could also prevent large fines.
Also, read “why is compliance management important within the water management system” if you’re a commercial property owner or manager supplying water to the public. Additionally, know what’s new in British water quality standards to remain compliant and follow all legal regulations.
Legal Responsibilities for US or Global Property Owners and Managers
Legionella Control International outlines Legionella landlord responsibilities for global property owners and managers, which include the responsibility of making any tenant aware of Legionella’s risk control measures and require landlords to at least conduct regular assessments, even basic risk assessments to identify high risks related to the bacteria.
GLEA Associates is a legal team that outlined the liabilities property owners and managers may face if they fail to conduct Legionella assessments, especially in areas where recent outbreaks were recorded like Atlanta in 2016. Another outbreak in Miami cost building owners $200,000 of lost revenue because the business premises were closed for investigation and remediation.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) general duty clause under section five also makes employers responsible for the health and safety of all personnel in the working environment. Property owners, managers, and employers are responsible for protection against Legionnaire’s disease.
The same OSHA regulations for employers outline how business owners may not retaliate against staff for raising concerns about potential hazards related to any dangerous substances, including the possible presence of Legionella bacteria. Property owners, managers, and employers are responsible for the health and safety of persons in their premises, regardless of whether you’re in the US or EU.
Who Is Responsible for Legionella Risk Assessments?
Any person managing or owning any physical premises is responsible for the health and safety of water systems, according to health regulations. The responsibility includes regular assessments and water testing to reduce the potential risks involved with Legionella bacteria and Legionnaires disease.
A Legionella test also ensures a property owner’s or manager’s own protection by reducing non-compliant risks like paying large fines. For example, the failure to ensure water safety and Legionella in rental properties could result in fines of up to £20,000, or $25,000, according to Visum.
Factors That Influence the Legionella Risk Assessment Cost
Multiple factors can influence the cost of a Legionella risk assessment. Prices start at £200 or $250 for small businesses, residential properties, a small office, or a dental surgery. Meanwhile, prices start from £500 or $620 for a gym or care home containing spas or swimming pools.
Furthermore, hotel owners, hospitals, and commercial businesses that supply water in multiple ways could pay £500-£2,000+ or $620-$2,500+ for a risk assessment or Legionella testing. Here are some factors that influence how much you’ll pay for a Legionella risk assessment or test:
- Location – An assessment cost depends on how far assessors must travel to the premises. Travel costs could start at £55 or $70 for residential properties.
- Building Size – A Legionella risk assessment cost also depends on the building size and type. Commercial properties have a higher risk of contaminated water systems.
- System Complexity – Complex water systems with combination boilers and cold water storage tanks require more Legionella testing as they’re at higher risk.
- Inactive Equipment – The cost of a Legionella risk assessment could also rise if assessors must determine whether redundant pipework could increase the risk of Legionnaire’s disease.
- Multiple Premises – Multiple properties require more than one Legionella test, which increases the price to assess health hazards in multiple locations.
- Commercial vs. Residential – Prices start much higher for commercial properties like a care home or hospital compared to a one-bedroom flatlet or apartment.
- Pat Testing – The need for portable appliance testing to determine whether a system using electrical equipment to control and monitor water temperature or filtration functions properly also increases costs.
- Legionella Certificate Costs – Some Legionella agencies charge for a certificate, but be careful because certificates aren’t required as long as you have digital records stored safely in an app.
Domestic Legionella Risk Assessment Cost Overview
Domestic risk assessments requested by property managers, an estate agent or realtor, or a landlord can vary depending on a few factors, including whether the rental property has cold water tanks or a domestic hot water system to mention a few considerations.
Domestic risk assessments don’t relate to properties being used for business or public services. They could cover assessments for small offices but not where the public has access to the system continuously. Still, regular Legionella risk assessments for rental properties could ensure compliance.
Here are some cost estimates for residential buildings for a Legionella risk assessment on a hot and cold water system:
- A private landlord could pay £90-£200 or $113-$250 per assessment per property.
- A realtor or property manager could pay £50-£100 or $62-$125 per assessment per property.
Factors that could change the price brackets include the number of rooms in a rental property, whether a qualified electrician is needed, and whether assessors must use a UKAS-accredited laboratory for water testing in the UK.
US property owners and landlords may extra for testing in a laboratory accredited for the testing of metals, hazardous substances, organic materials, or water and waste management systems, according to the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). However, testing domestic hot and cold water systems is cheaper and typically low-risk.
Commercial Legionella Risk Assessment Cost Overview
Legionella risk assessments cost more for commercial properties as they entail a lot more work and the water system is often more complicated. Legionella testing for a Legionella bacteria risk in multiple sites will also cost more and will vary depending on whether a hot or cold water system is in place.
Prices start at the following figures for a private landlord, property manager, or property owner regarding commercial or public buildings:
- Commercial Legionella risk assessments cost £200-£500 or $250-$630 for smaller buildings per assessment.
- Commercial Legionella risk assessments cost £500-£2,000+ or $630-$2,500 for larger buildings per assessment.
Unfortunately, commercial or public buildings aren’t low risk and will cost more. However, seek a fair price if using a professional to conduct a Legionella risk assessment and tests. An expert will also guide control measures to ensure you meet any legal requirement of the Legionella Control Association and other regulatory bodies for US and UK water system management compliance.
Can I Do My Own Legionella Risk Assessment?
A Legionella risk assessment should be conducted by a hygiene specialist using a UKAS-accredited lab in the UK or US labs with laboratory accreditation to test organic and waste management systems. The actual Legionella test using water droplets to determine whether water assets are safe enough for human consumption is best done by a qualified professional or with a Legionella risk assessment app.
Business owners, property managers, estate agents, and landlords can use Velappity, a risk assessment tool designed to help identify health hazards and the potential risk for bacterial growth, including Legionella. Our Legionella risk assessment app is a one-stop shop for reducing risks and meeting compliance standards in the UK and US.
Assess the risks associated with Legionnaire’s disease with a mobile-first approach that guides users through every step of the Legionella risk assessment process. Meanwhile, the Velappity pricing options reduce Legionella risk assessment costs while providing access to multiple forms for inspections.
Users can use the client portal to set reminders for regular Legionella risk assessments, ensuring the premises remain compliant with the Legionella Control Association, HSE, the US OSHA regulations, and all UK legal requirements, including the HSE ACOP L8 and BS 8580 safety standards.
Meet every legal requirement with a sufficient assessment to ensure the public, personnel, customers, renters, and your own protection using the Velappity app today. Start a free trial today, or contact us to discuss your needs and how Velappity can reduce the Legionella risk assessment cost.
Legionella Risk Assessment Cost Summary
The Legionella risk assessment cost depends on various factors, but property managers, estate agents, landlords, and property owners in the UK and US can enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing what influences the cost and how to reduce it with a simple Legionella risk testing app.
Velappity ensures your risk assessment meets the local standards by guiding the process, recommending control measures, and helping clients report water system conditions. Start a free trial today, or contact us to discuss your needs and how Velappity can fulfill the demand.
Legionella Risk Assessment Cost FAQs
What is the difference between a Legionella risk assessment and a test?
A Legionella test is the actual laboratory testing process that determines whether the bacteria is present in a water system. On the other hand, experts use a Legionella risk assessment to assess whether there is a risk associated with the Legionella bacteria before lab testing begins.
What is the Legionella test process?
The step-by-step Legionella risk assessment and testing process works as follows:
- The process begins with a comprehensive Legionella risk assessment to identify potential hazards, such as incorrect water temperatures in a hot water system, failed filtration in a cold water tank, visible debris in the water, stagnant water inside the tanks, or recent regional or state outbreaks.
- Once high-risk conditions are identified, the testing process begins to determine whether the water has potential bacteria that could cause Legionnaire’s disease.
- A sample of the water is taken for testing in a laboratory while an assessor may review previous assessments or testing reports to determine whether perceived lower-risk scenarios may pose a greater risk for bacteria growth.
- The assessor will report back with the results once the lab tests are complete, recommending remedial controls to ensure the premises can meet the legal requirements and compliance standards, which may include recommendations for changing specific parts of the system.
Can a plumber do a Legionella risk assessment?
Not all plumbers can conduct a Legionella risk assessment. The Snipef Plumbing and Heating Association suggests plumbers, tradesmen, or anyone involved in the design or management of water system infrastructure and maintenance must be properly trained and certified as a Legionella expert.
Are Legionella risk assessments mandatory for rental properties?
Yes, it’s the legal responsibility of landlords, estate agents, and property managers to conduct regular Legionella assessments to ensure the health and safety of any person living on a property being supplied with hot or cold water. The failure to assess the water could lead to heavy fines.
What is PAT Testing regarding Legionella risk assessments?
Portable appliance testing is typically conducted by a qualified electrician to examine whether electrical equipment controlling water systems or the water temperature works efficiently. It’s an integral part of the Legionella risk assessment where temperature, flow, and filtration systems run electrically.
