Sanctuary Housing Fined £900,000 Following Legionella Failings

A major Legionella prosecution has highlighted the importance of effective water hygiene management within residential and sheltered housing.

In October 2024, Sanctuary Housing Association was fined £900,000 after pleading guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

The case related to Legionella contamination at Vincent Naughton Court, sheltered accommodation in Birkenhead.

Legionella had been detected in water samples taken from communal areas and residents' flats. The subsequent investigation identified concerns around how the risk had been managed.

The Health and Safety Executive's conviction register confirms the £900,000 fine imposed on 22 October 2024.

What can landlords learn from this case?

Legionella risk management should never become a paperwork exercise.

Landlords, housing associations and those responsible for residential buildings need to ensure appropriate controls are implemented, monitored and reviewed.

Where water sampling forms part of a Legionella control programme, the results also need to be understood and acted upon appropriately.

The case demonstrates the potential consequences when water safety management fails, particularly in buildings occupied by people who may be more vulnerable to Legionnaires' disease.

Legionella testing for landlords and housing providers

Aqua Samples provides straightforward Legionella water testing kits for landlords, property managers and businesses across the UK.

Our service allows you to collect samples from your property and return them for testing by a UKAS-accredited laboratory, without arranging an engineer visit solely to collect the samples.

Need to test your water for Legionella? Explore Aqua Samples' Legionella water testing kits.