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Legal requirement

Legionella risk assessment

A legal duty to assess and control legionella risk in the water system. Most hosts can do it themselves.

Applies to: Every holiday let.

How oftenNo fixed interval in law. Review when anything changes; every 2 years is common practice
Who can do itYou, in most cases. HSE says landlords rarely need a professional
Typical costFree to do yourself; about £80 to £200 professionally
If it's missedProsecution under health and safety law if someone falls ill

What the rules say

Health and safety law (HSE's L8 code) requires you to assess the risk from legionella and control it. For ordinary domestic water systems HSE says testing is not usually needed. The risk rises when water sits still, which is common between bookings and out of season.

What to do

  1. Write down your water system: tanks, cylinder, showers, rarely used outlets.
  2. Keep stored hot water at 60°C or above.
  3. Run all taps and showers for a few minutes before guests arrive after an empty spell.
  4. Descale and disinfect showerheads regularly.

Elsewhere in the UK

Scotland: A legionella risk assessment is also a mandatory licence condition.

Northern Ireland: The same duty applies, enforced by HSENI.

Tips from the field

  • Add "flush taps and showers" to your cleaner's changeover checklist.

Official sources

Costs are typical 2025/26 prices, not official figures. This is general information, not legal advice. Last checked 26 Sept 2026.

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