It’s that time when people tend to take stock of various aspects of their lives and make new plans and resolutions for the New Year. For landlords in the private residential sector there are lots of changes ahead in 2017 in terms of tax and regulation, so protecting profits and streamlining property management are likely to be top of the list. While Legionella control legislation isn’t changing, we have some suggestions as to how landlords can reduce the burden of compliance.

1. Don’t compromise on compliance

When money is tight and your to-do list seems never-ending it can be tempting to cut corners on compliance. We are constantly amazed at how few private landlords are unaware of their Legionella control obligations, so whether you are intentionally or unintentionally putting off your Legionella risk assessment, now is the time to take action. Read the Health & Safety Executive’s L8 guide to compliance and plan how you are going to meet the required standard. The good news is that for most properties it’s a relatively straightforward process so there’s no excuse!

2. Get trained

Make 2017 the year when you invest in a suitable training course to plug your knowledge gaps on Legionella control. For most private landlords with a fairly typical residential property portfolio, it will take less than a day to learn all you need to know about compliance. Read our blog on choosing the right training course and make your booking today.

3. Take advantage of technology

For landlords managing several properties, or letting agents with a significant portfolio to oversee, there are some great technology solutions to help you streamline your compliance responsibilities. The latest app to be launched, called CAT-SI, is one we’ve been involved in field testing and offers an impressive array of user-friendly tools for quick and easy compliance with Legionella control legislation. It will soon cover a full range of health & safety compliance (including gas and electrical safety), and a comprehensive inventory control system too, so will quickly become an essential property management tool to save you time and money.

4. Work with your tenants

We visit tenants on behalf of our clients on a daily basis and it’s clear to us that when landlord and tenant work together on Legionella control it’s beneficial for both parties. Talk to your tenants about the control measures you have in place and provide them with written information. If they need to be carrying out regular tasks to help control Legionella (e.g. descaling taps and showerheads), write this into the rental contract. If they report any plumbing problems (e.g. leaks, rust or corrosion), act quickly rather than letting small problems become big, expensive issues. One of our clients, Catalyst Housing, distributes this simple leaflet to all tenants and we find it’s a very effective tool.

Whatever your New Year’s resolutions for 2017, we urge you to address Legionella control as part of your property plans. If you’re considering working with a specialist supplier to manage this process, please contact us for a free, no-obligation quote.