water & air quality
schematic drawing of the plumbing system. It’s a good idea to take photographs as evidence too. One of the simplest ways to ensure that your records are in good order is
to use a digital compliance tool such as an app or virtual logbook. We use CAT-SI (
www.cat-si.com), a new water hygiene compliance app for creating, storing, updating and managing risk assessments from your smartphone or tablet, and it’s proving to be a real asset in Legionella control.
Tenant trouble
The relationship you have with your tenants and the type of tenant in your property can have a significant impact on managing the risk of Legionella. Firstly, some tenants are at higher risk of contracting Legionnaires’ disease than others, so when doing your risk assessment make sure you take this into account. For instance, over 45s, smokers, heavy drinkers, people with underlying health conditions (such as asthma, heart disease or diabetes) or anyone with an impaired immune system can be more susceptible. Secondly, it’s important to educate your tenants about Legionnaires’ disease and make them aware of the control measures you have in place. This could include asking them to descale taps and showerheads regularly, reporting any plumbing problems promptly (e.g. inconsistent water temperatures, leaks or reduced water flow) as well as not interfering with any thermostats or water temperature settings. We always recommend giving tenants a simple handout on the risk of Legionella as part of the tenancy pack.
Managing void periods
Most rental properties lie vacant from time to time and if you rent your place out to students or run a holiday let, void periods will be inevitable.
When a property lies empty it gives the water in the system a chance to stagnate, allowing any bacteria to flourish undisturbed. The best way to avoid this happening is to ensure that showers and taps are run at least once a week, for a minimum of two minutes. It’s also a good idea to flush all the toilets. Whether you decide to manage Legionella control yourself or bring in the professionals, with these simple precautions you’ll see that compliance needn’t be complicated.
James Homard is co-founder and technical director of specialist consultant Compliance for Landlords
NUAIRE. WIPING OUT MOULD AND CONDENSATION FOR GOOD
NEW DRIMASTER re-inVENTED DRIMASTEReco RANGE
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029 2085 8500
nuaire.co.uk/drimastereco
www.housingmmonline.co.uk | HMM November 2016 | 57
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