--- title: Housing stock – Guide to managing Legionella - Part 1 description: How should councils, local authorities & housing associations manage Legionella & what are their responsibilities when managing a large property portfolio. image: https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/hubfs/Housing%20Association%20-%20Part%201%20%20749%20x%20497%20100KB_11zon.jpg --- [![Water-Hygiene-Centre-Logo1-2](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Water-Hygiene-Centre-Logo1-2.png?width=225&height=80&name=Water-Hygiene-Centre-Logo1-2.png "Water-Hygiene-Centre-Logo1-2")](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/) [![white-logo](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/hs-fs/hubfs/WaterHygieneCentre-2019/Images/white-logo.png?width=198&height=69&name=white-logo.png "white-logo")](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/) - [** ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/blog/councils-housing-legionella&title=Housing%20stock%20–%20Guide%20to%20managing%20Legionella%20-%20Part%201&picture=https://2896031.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/2896031/Housing%20Association%20-%20Part%201%20%20749%20x%20497%20100KB_11zon.jpg&description=How%20should%20councils,%20local%20authorities%20&%20housing%20associations%20manage%20Legionella%20&%20what%20are%20their%20responsibilities%20when%20managing%20a%20large%20property%20portfolio.) - [**](https://twitter.com/share?source=https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/blog/councils-housing-legionella&text=Housing%20stock%20–%20Guide%20to%20managing%20Legionella%20-%20Part%201%20-%20https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/blog/councils-housing-legionella) - [**](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/blog/councils-housing-legionella&title=Housing%20stock%20–%20Guide%20to%20managing%20Legionella%20-%20Part%201&summary=How%20should%20councils,%20local%20authorities%20&%20housing%20associations%20manage%20Legionella%20&%20what%20are%20their%20responsibilities%20when%20managing%20a%20large%20property%20portfolio.) # **Managing Legionella in housing stock – Part 1** by [Charlie Brain](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/blog/author/charlie-brain), on 16-10-2025 Find me on: [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlie-brain-1a1756118/) [![Housing Association - Part 1 749 x 497 100KB_11zon](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Housing%20Association%20-%20Part%201%20%20749%20x%20497%20100KB_11zon.jpg?width=731&height=485&name=Housing%20Association%20-%20Part%201%20%20749%20x%20497%20100KB_11zon.jpg)](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/blog/councils-housing-legionella) In our experience, water safety management in housing stock has varied greatly, mainly due to the difficulty of deciding what is “reasonably practicable” in managing thousands of properties. This blog aims to explain why and how this may be approached. ## **Social Housing Regulation Act ** In July 2023, the Social Housing Regulation Act became law, which aimed to improve social housing standards and protect tenants. On 1st April 2024, the Regulator of Social Housing published the [Safety and Quality Standard](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safety-and-quality-standard), which states that: *“When acting as landlords, registered providers must take all reasonable steps to ensure the health and safety of tenants in their homes and associated communal areas”. * Before July 2023, the management of water safety and in particular,* Legionella* bacteria was governed by the Health and Safety at Work Act, COSHH regulations and the [ACoP L8,](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/blog/acopl8-hsg274-legionella) which is detailed below; however, the new Social Housing Regulations Act may give Councils and Housing Associations a reminder or the need to re-focus on it. [![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2896031/30cae303-224d-4299-9a43-10e08bb0888e.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2896031/30cae303-224d-4299-9a43-10e08bb0888e) As part of the Act’s release, the Regulator of Social Housing has published the first set of regulatory judgements from its planned inspection programme, which will take place over a four-year cycle. As part of the inspections, the core statutory compliance areas of gas, electrical, fire, water, and asbestos will be in focus, so a review of water safety management is required.   ## **Legionella - The Law and Regulations** Councils and Housing Associations (the landlord) are legally responsible under the Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) to ensure tenants are not exposed to health and safety risks. COSHH Regulations further explain that we must control the risk from a range of hazardous substances, including biological agents, Legionella being an example. This is achieved by identifying hazards, assessing those risks, and implementing any necessary control measures - sound familiar? ![ACoP L8 and HSG274 image_100KB](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ACoP%20L8%20and%20HSG274%20image_100KB.jpg?width=360&height=178&name=ACoP%20L8%20and%20HSG274%20image_100KB.jpg)Furthermore, [ACoP L8 Approved Code of Practice ](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/blog/acopl8-hsg274-legionella)requires landlords of domestic premises to assess the risk of exposure to Legionella to their tenants. More detailed information is given in [HSG 274 Part 2](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/blog/acopl8-hsg274-legionella) , pages 45-47, as well as on the [HSE website](https://www.hse.gov.uk/legionnaires/legionella-landlords-responsibilities.htm).   There is much published guidance on what to do; however, it still seems to leave organisations with little practical advice on how to tackle it, starting with [Legionella risk assessments](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/legionella-risk-assessment-l8). ## **Legionella Risk Assessment - The Guidance** HSG 274 Part 2 states, “*All water systems require a risk assessment, but not all systems require elaborate control measures. A simple risk assessment may show that there are no real risks from legionella, but if there are, implementing appropriate measures will prevent or control these risks*.”   If, like many organisations, a specialist [water hygiene company](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/) is commissioned to assess your properties, you could seek their help, although most landlords can assess the risk themselves.   ![Risk Assessment Remedial Works Legionella LRA 700x525](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Risk%20Assessment%20%20Remedial%20Works%20%20Legionella%20%20LRA%20700x525.jpg?width=253&height=190&name=Risk%20Assessment%20%20Remedial%20Works%20%20Legionella%20%20LRA%20700x525.jpg)The term “*simple* risk assessment” could be interpreted in many different ways, perhaps it means short? i.e., a single page? Maybe not meeting all the detailed requirements of [BS 8580-1](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/blog/bs8580-legionella-risk-assessment) and the Legionella Control Association? Without a template from the HSE, advice should be sought from the health and safety lead or specialist consultant to create a suitable risk assessment method.  The HSE suggests that housing stock represents a “low risk” of *Legionella* to its users, which is why organisations concentrate resources on more complex water systems in buildings with more susceptible users. It is not unreasonable to suggest that Councils and Housing Associations have not grasped this “prickly thorn” because these properties will never be inspected or investigated. The HSE has stated that neither they nor Local Authority inspectors would actively inspect domestic premises or ask landlords for proof of a risk assessment. “*However, if a tenant were to contract Legionnaires' disease from the water system in their home, the landlord may be liable to prosecution under HSWA, and would have to demonstrate to a court that they had fulfilled their legal duty, so it is important that they assess and control the risks*”. With the Regulator of Social Housing now performing inspections, this long-unnoticed risk may become very important.   In Part 2, we’ll explore some actions to help Councils and Housing Associations grasp this “prickly thorn”. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about this blog or if you would like to [consult with one of our experts for further advice on water hygiene.](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/contact) Editor’s Note: The information provided in this blog is correct at the original publication date – May 2022 (Revised June 2025). © Water Hygiene Centre 2025   [![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2896031/ba3583be-f15a-4dcf-973b-e071ac813d2d.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2896031/ba3583be-f15a-4dcf-973b-e071ac813d2d)   #### About the author #### [Charlie Brain](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/blog/author/charlie-brain) Charlie started at the Water Hygiene Centre as a trainee risk assessor back in 2010, since then he has developed professionally from risk assessor, project manager and is now a Senior Consultant. During this time he has taken ownership of our risk assessment method and development of our bespoke reporting platform and has been key in our UKAS accreditation to 17020. ### Related Posts ### [Education – Areas of High Legionella Risk](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/blog/education-legionella-risk) by [Jonathan Twaites](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/blog/author/jonathan-twaites), on 30-06-2026 Legionella risk is a subject that anyone who manages water systems needs to consider and suitably manage, whether you are involved with an office block, hospital, school, or higher education. There... [Read More](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/blog/education-legionella-risk) ### [University, College and School Legionella Training](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/blog/school-legionella-training) by [Charlie Brain](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/blog/author/charlie-brain), on 24-06-2026 A simple internet search using the words “Legionella and Schools” identifies many news articles with instances of schools being closed following a Legionella “outbreak”. [Read More](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/blog/school-legionella-training) ##### Share your thoughts ### Subscribe to our weekly email updates [![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2896031/ca5de60b-a521-407d-ad56-515c39fed9f2.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2896031/ca5de60b-a521-407d-ad56-515c39fed9f2) ### Categories - [General (221)](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/blog/topic/general) - [Featured (148)](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/blog/topic/featured) - [Recent News (73)](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/blog/topic/recent-news) - [Legionella Risk Assessment (26)](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/blog/topic/legionella-risk-assessment) - [Home Page (19)](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/blog/topic/home-page) - [news (19)](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/blog/topic/news) - [Healthcare (16)](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/blog/topic/healthcare) - [Authorising Engineer (Water) (14)](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/blog/topic/authorising-engineer-water) - [Education (12)](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/blog/topic/education) - [Training (10)](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/blog/topic/training) - [Legionella Awareness Training (9)](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/blog/topic/legionella-awareness-training) - [Property Management (9)](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/blog/topic/property-management) - [Role of the Responsible Person (9)](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/blog/topic/role-of-the-responsible-person) - [Role of the Authorised Person (8)](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/blog/topic/role-of-the-authorised-person) - [Water Risk Assessment Review (8)](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/blog/topic/water-risk-assessment-review) - [Written Scheme/Water Safety Plan (7)](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/blog/topic/written-scheme-water-safety-plan) - [Local Authorities (6)](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/blog/topic/local-authorities) - [Role of the Competent Person (5)](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/blog/topic/role-of-the-competent-person) - [Role of the Authorised Person - Design (4)](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/blog/topic/role-of-the-authorised-person-design) - [Water Safety Audit (4)](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/blog/topic/water-safety-audit) - [Schematics (2)](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/blog/topic/schematics) - [Construction & Architects (1)](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/blog/topic/construction-architects) [See all](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/blog/councils-housing-legionella#) ### Most Popular Blog Posts **About** **Services** **Training** **Knowledge Spa** [![Water-Hygiene-Centre-Logo1](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/hs-fs/hubfs/WaterHygieneCentre-2019/Images/Water-Hygiene-Centre-Logo1.jpg?width=241&height=86&name=Water-Hygiene-Centre-Logo1.jpg "Water-Hygiene-Centre-Logo1")](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/) ### Connect with us - [![Facebook](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/hubfs/WaterHygieneCentre-2019/Images/facebook.png "Water Hygiene Centre on Facebook")](https://www.facebook.com/WaterHygieneCentre/) - [![LinkedIn](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/hubfs/WaterHygieneCentre-2019/Images/linkedin.png "Water Hygiene Centre on LinkedIn")](https://www.linkedin.com/company/water-hygiene-centre/) - [![YouTube](https://www.waterhygienecentre.com/hubfs/WaterHygieneCentre-2019/Images/youtube.png "Water Hygiene Centre on YouTube")](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFc94KlCXe3HNXT-uXuBd8w)                                                                             © Copyright 2026. 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