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Free legionella risk assessment template

An editable Word template for a simple rental property. It follows the points HSE asks landlords to consider, so you can walk round the property, fill it in and keep it as your record.

Editable Word documentTemperature log includedTenant advice sheet included

Last reviewed October 2026 against HSE guidance.

Free template

Get the free landlord legionella risk assessment template

Editable Word document for a simple rental property. The download link is on the next page.

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What is in the template

Section	What you record
1. Property and assessor	Address, type of property, who carried out the assessment and when.
2. The water system	Mains-fed or stored water, type of water heater, any cold water tank, number of bathrooms and showers.
3. Risk questions	Thirteen yes or no questions on temperature, stagnation, tanks, showers and vulnerable occupants, each with space for the action needed.
4. Control measures	What you have done and will keep doing, such as cylinder temperature, flushing and showerhead cleaning.
5. Vacant periods	How the system will be flushed when the property is empty.
6. Overall risk and review date	Your conclusion and when you will look at it again.
Temperature log	A sheet for recording hot and cold water temperatures at the nearest and furthest outlets.
Tenant advice sheet	A one-page note for tenants covering the points HSE says they should be told.

How to use it

Walk the system. Start where water enters the property and follow it to the boiler or cylinder, any tank in the loft, and each tap and shower.
Measure temperatures. Use a simple thermometer. Run the hot tap for one minute and the cold tap for two minutes before reading. Hot should reach at least 50°C and cold should be below 20°C. See legionella temperatures.
Answer each risk question. Where the answer shows a problem, write down what you will do and by when.
Tell your tenants. Give them the advice sheet. HSE says tenants should be told not to adjust the cylinder temperature, to clean showerheads regularly, and to report problems with hot water.
Sign, date and keep it. Set a review date and look again sooner if the system or the occupants change.

Who the template suits

The template is written for a single house or flat with a domestic hot and cold water system. HSE describes this as generally low risk because water is used and turned over every day.

It is not designed for buildings with shared or complex systems, such as blocks with communal tanks, care homes, hotels or workplaces with larger systems. Those need a fuller assessment and a written control scheme, usually from a specialist. You can see typical costs or ask for a quote using the form above.

Do you have to write it down?

HSE says landlords are not necessarily required to record the findings. Recording is a statutory duty only for employers with 5 or more employees. HSE also says you may find it wise to keep a record, and a completed template is the simplest way to show what you did.

Is there an official HSE or gov.uk template?

HSE does not publish a legionella risk assessment form for landlords. It publishes guidance on what the assessment should consider, and leaves the format to you. Any template, including this one, is a way of recording those points. What matters is that the assessment reflects the actual system in your property.

In Scotland the Repairing Standard guidance sets the same low-risk example and adds a review interval. See legionella risk assessments in Scotland.

Questions people ask

Is the template really free?

Yes. Enter your name and email and the download link is on the next page. A fuller paid pack for portfolios and HMOs is planned, and you can ask to be told when it is ready.

Is a template legally valid?

The law asks you to assess the risk, not to use a particular form. A template you have completed honestly for your own property is a record of that assessment. It is not a certificate, and no certificate is required by law.

Can I use the template for an HMO?

You can use it as a starting point for a small HMO with a simple system. Larger HMOs often have more bathrooms, stored water and rooms that stand empty, so consider a professional assessment.

What format is the template?

A Microsoft Word document (.docx). It opens in Word, Google Docs, Pages and LibreOffice, and you can print it and fill it in by hand.

Sources

Checked against these sources in October 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.

Start with the free template

An editable Word template for a simple rental property, based on the points HSE asks landlords to consider.

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