Does Your Commercial Property Need a Legionella Check When Tenants Change?
A change of tenant is a natural point to review the condition of a commercial property, from heating and plumbing to fire safety and general maintenance.
One area that can easily be overlooked is the water system. When premises have been vacant between occupiers, used differently by the previous tenant or altered ahead of a new lease, the existing Legionella controls may no longer reflect how the building operates.
For commercial landlords, property managers and businesses across Rugby, Coventry and Warwickshire, a change in occupancy can therefore be an important time to reconsider Legionella risk.
Why a New Tenant Can Change the Risk
Legionella management is closely connected to how a building and its water system are actually used. A risk assessment completed when every part of a property was occupied may not accurately represent the same premises after several months of vacancy or a significant change in use.
Imagine an office previously occupied by 50 employees being converted into a smaller workplace with large areas left unused. Showers, kitchen taps or washrooms that once saw daily use could suddenly receive very little. Alternatively, a new tenant might introduce additional facilities, alter pipework or change hot-water demand.
The physical building may be the same, but the conditions within its water system can be very different.
The Period Between Tenants Matters Too
It isn't only the new occupancy that deserves attention. What happened while the property was empty can be equally important. Water sitting within little-used pipework can stagnate, while temperatures within parts of the system may move into conditions favourable to bacterial growth. Simply handing over the keys and running a few taps doesn't necessarily address the underlying risks. Where premises have stood empty, the water system should form part of the wider process of preparing the property for occupation. Depending on the circumstances, this could involve inspecting the system, checking temperatures, reviewing existing controls and determining whether additional measures such as sampling or remedial work are appropriate.
Has the Incoming Tenant Changed the Building?
Commercial fit-outs can substantially alter a property's plumbing without appearing particularly significant from the outside. Kitchen facilities may be relocated. Washrooms can be added or removed. Showers might be installed for employees. Old outlets can become redundant and new pipework introduced.
These changes matter because Legionella risk assessments consider the configuration and operation of the water system itself. An assessment based on the previous layout may no longer provide an accurate picture following substantial plumbing alterations. This is why water hygiene should be considered as part of the fit-out process rather than after the new tenant has already moved in.
Who Is Responsible?
Responsibility for Legionella control depends on who has control of the premises and water systems. In a commercial property, responsibilities can involve employers, landlords, managing agents or other dutyholders depending on the circumstances and terms of occupancy. What matters is that responsibility is clearly established rather than assumed to belong to somebody else.
For landlords and property managers with multiple units, having clear records can be particularly useful. Risk assessments, monitoring information and details of work undertaken provide continuity when tenants change and help demonstrate how water safety has been managed.
A Useful Opportunity to Review the Whole System
Rather than viewing a tenant change solely as another compliance task, it can be a useful opportunity to understand the condition of the property's water system. A professional assessment can identify water storage or pipework concerns, check whether hot and cold water temperatures are being appropriately controlled and highlight outlets or sections of the system that require attention. Where necessary, water sampling and testing can provide further information. Apex Solutions Group provides Legionella risk assessments and testing alongside detailed reports and recommendations, allowing commercial property owners to understand both the risks identified and the practical steps required to control them.
Commercial Legionella Services Across the Region
Apex Solutions Group works with businesses and commercial property owners throughout Rugby, Coventry, Warwickshire and surrounding areas, providing Legionella risk assessments, water temperature monitoring, sampling and testing, reporting and support with ongoing control plans. If a property has recently changed tenants, undergone refurbishment or spent an extended period unoccupied, it provides a sensible opportunity to make sure its water management arrangements still match the way the building is now being used.
Commercial Legionella Questions
Guidance for landlords, businesses and property managers
Do I automatically need a new Legionella assessment every time a tenant changes?
Not necessarily. The important question is whether the existing assessment remains valid. Changes in occupancy, water usage, plumbing or the condition of the system can all provide reasons for it to be reviewed.
What if the commercial unit has been empty between tenants?
Vacancy can reduce water movement and increase stagnation in little-used sections of the system. The circumstances should be considered before the property returns to normal occupation.
Does a commercial refurbishment affect Legionella risk?
It can. Changes involving water outlets, tanks or pipework can alter how water moves through the building and may introduce new risks that weren't covered by an earlier assessment.
Is water testing always required before a new tenant moves in?
No. Testing isn't automatically necessary in every property. Whether sampling is appropriate depends on the water system, its history and the risks identified.
Can Apex assess multi-unit commercial properties?
A Legionella assessment should reflect the specific property and its water systems. Apex Solutions Group can provide tailored commercial assessments and recommendations according to the premises being managed.
Preparing a Property for Its Next Occupier?
Don't allow water hygiene to become an afterthought during a commercial handover. Apex Solutions Group provides professional Legionella risk assessment and testing services throughout Rugby, Coventry and Warwickshire. Arrange an assessment to understand the condition of your water systems, identify potential risks and put appropriate controls in place for the next stage of the property's use.
