Devon Landlords warned to guard against deadly legionella

Residential landlords could face heavy fines, and jail time in worst-case scenarios, if they fail to address the risks of legionella in Devon rental properties.

Under the new Renters’ Rights Act landlords could be hit with fines of up to £20,000 if their property is not compliant to regulation or face a custodial sentence if a tenant dies after contracting Legionnaires’ disease.

Amid widespread changes, some of which strengthen enforcement against existing legislation, landlords are being advised to complete an annual legionella risk assessment in their properties to protect themselves and their tenants.

Legionella is a bacterium that thrives in warm water environments, where it can multiply and spread through tiny droplets of water or aerosols. If inhaled it can cause Legionnaires’ disease, a severe form of pneumonia that can be life-threatening, particularly for older people or those with compromised immune systems.

It is a legal requirement for landlords to assess and control the risk of legionella, and failure to do so is a criminal breach.

A new digital platform though is making it simple for landlords to become accredited assessors via a HSE complaint e-learning platform and complete a risk assessment and store evidence in minutes.

Legionella Guard has been created by experienced assessors to help UK landlords, letting agents and housing associations fulfil their obligations to protect tenants quickly and cost effectively.

Leah Stone, Director of Legionella Guard, said: “Legionella is a deadly risk hiding in plain sight that too often gets overlooked.

“While many landlords receive support to manage obvious hazards like gas and fire safety, Legionella can lurk undetected in water systems and is often overlooked.

“It’s a legal duty for property owners to manage the risk and historically guidance has been vague, confusing and often ignored, while professional inspections are expensive.

“Our new digital platform empowers landlords to take control of the risk, protecting tenants and themselves in one go. It is a simple solution that the sector has been crying out for.

“It’s been created by experienced assessors who have been completing risk assessments for more than a decade across the south of England. It’s easy use and incredibly affordable, which means every landlord can access help and get covered quickly and effectively.”

It costs users £9.99 per survey and stores the information securely.

“Once landlords have completed our straightforward e-learning programme they can assess the risk themselves, without having to pay large fees to third parties,” added Miss Stone.

“We’ve deliberately kept the fee low to make this accessible and help Devon landlords manage amid so many changes and market challenges.

“It is available to letting agents, local authorities and housing associations in addition to private landlords.”

Statistics released by the UK Health Security Agency in November revealed 472 cases of legionellosis were reported in 2024, with a case fatality rate of 2.8 per cent.

It is those extreme cases which present a huge risk for landlords not complying with the relevant laws. In the most severe cases, when somebody becomes ill or dies due to legionella, landlords can be prosecuted under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

Chest pain, a cough, a high temperature, and shortness of breath are all telltale signs of the Legionella disease. While it’s uncommon and most people make a full recovery, legionellosis can also be very serious.

For more information, and to download the Legionella Guard app, please visit:https://legionella-guard.co.uk/