Four town councils in the South-East of England have been punished by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) after it was found that hundreds of water, gas and electricity safety checks in their properties were overdue. All four used the same property management company, which has now been branded ‘no longer fit for purpose’ by one of the councils. The report by RSH found that there was ‘no assurance’ over legionella in this case, with the property management service guilty of neglecting its responsibility to the councils, residents and the general public.
Fortunately for residents, the four councils have begun to rectify the situation, by working through the backlog of statutory checks and follow-up actions with regard to water, gas and electricity safety. This did not stop them being penalised by the regulator, who in spite of this found enough grounds for a breach of its Home Standards rules. It has also agreed to work with all four councils to ensure that no tenants in the properties can come to any serious harm in the future. The councils themselves are said to be considering their future relationship with the property management company responsible.
Legionella bacteria pose a significant risk to any residents, staff or visitors to affected sites. They can lie dormant in pipework and water tanks for many months in the right conditions. When water vapour containing the bacteria is inhaled, the bacteria can cause Legionnaires’ Disease, which is characterised by pneumonia and flu-like symptoms. This can be fatal for elderly or immuno-compromised members of the public and requires swift medical attention.
Preventing the build-up and spread of legionella is the sole responsibility of the duty holder for the property. A regular regime of water system monitoring, flushing and cleaning is essential to keep people safe. Where this responsibility is neglected, as was the case in the four councils, there can be serious risks to public health that require industry regulators to step in. This can also cause serious reputational damage to businesses and councils, while punishments for breaching safety regulations are severe. Until these sites are made safe again, they may not be suitable to live in or visit, which is to the detriment of all involved, making all monitoring, inspection and cleansing protocols a mandatory process that must be carried out on a regular basis.