Water hygiene & sanitation


Turning the threat of the invisible enemy into an opportunity


With the amount of supported housing in private hands increasing, Andrew Scott of Gauntlet Group reiterates the significance of checking and balancing for legionella


2,761,690 units per bed spaces owned at March 31, 2016. The transfer of housing stock from councils to private providers and agents


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typically leads to property refurbishment and repairs and often involves periods of tenant unoccupancy. At other times, capital works, which may disturb or affect the water supply, may be carried out while residents are still in their homes. The ‘invisible enemy’ of legionella can thrive in both scenarios. Legionella is a potentially fatal form of pneumonia taking hold when tiny


droplets of contaminated water (aerosols) are inhaled. The bad news is that all man-made hot and cold water systems can assist the growth of legionella bacteria. For this reason, a landlord (defined as anyone renting property they own under lease or licence for a period under seven years) has legal


ccording to the HCA Statistical Data Return, between 2015 and 2016 we witnessed the largest increase in the total amount of social housing stock owned by privately registered providers of social housing, with


The catalyst for that diligence should stem from your duty of care and social responsibility


responsibilities to control the risk of legionella under the COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) Regulations of 2002. Those taking control of housing stock in which some or all of the apartments


or units have been unoccupied, even if just for a short period, should hear legionella alarm bells, particularly if tenants receive their water supply from a central tank within which water could have stagnated.


www.housingmmonline.co.uk | HMM January 2018 | 49


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