The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE), has been made aware that some landlords are being asked by letting agents and consultants to provide a ‘Legionnaires Testing Certificate’ for their properties. They are being told that this is a requirement of the revised L8 ACOP. However, this is not the case.
Although it is true that landlords have a duty to ensure that the risk of Legionnaires’ disease to their tenants is properly assessed and controlled, health and safety law does not require a ‘Legionnaires Testing Certificate’. They can carry out the risk assessment themselves, so long as they are knowledgeable and can be considered competent.
Danny Davis, operations manager at CIPHE, said: “Since the launch of our Safe Water campaign at the beginning of August, a number of worried landlords have been in touch about this matter. It appears that misinterpretation of the legal requirements have been placing an unnecessary financial burden on some landlords. We would like to raise awareness of this issue to prevent further misunderstandings.”
The Health and Safety Executive has free guidelines on its website at: www.hse.gov.uk that can be downloaded by landlords.