- Home
- Existing residents
- Water safety and legionella
Resident guidance & Policy information: All residents - Last updated 17 April 2026
Water safety and legionella
This page explains what legionella is and the risk it can pose, the range of ways we keep your home’s water systems safe and what you can do to keep your water system healthy. You can also download our Water Hygiene and Legionella Policy.
On this page you’ll find:
- Anchor's Water Hygiene and Legionella Policy
- What is legionella?
- What are the symptoms of Legionnaires disease?
- How Anchor keeps your home’s water systems safe
- What you can do to help keep your water system healthy
- Letting us know if you want to make changes to the water system in your home
- How to use water butts safely
- How to get more help or advice on water safety, temperature or leaks
- Free advice on energy costs and running expenses
Anchor's Water Hygiene and Legionella Policy
Our policy outlines our approach to water safety across our properties.
Water Hygiene and Legionella Policy
What is legionella?
Legionella is a type of bacteria that can grow in stagnant or poorly maintained water systems. If inhaled through tiny water droplets, it can cause Legionnaires’ disease, a form of pneumonia. While the risk in individual homes is low, simple steps can help keep you and your household safe.
You can’t catch Legionnaires’ disease from drinking water. The risk comes from breathing in very small water droplets (like spray or mist).
What are the symptoms of Legionnaires disease?
Legionnaires’ disease symptoms can feel like flu:
- High fever
- Cough
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
If you have these symptoms and are worried, especially after returning from travel, contact NHS 111 or your GP.
How Anchor keeps your home’s water systems safe
We regularly check our buildings to make sure there is no risk from Legionella bacteria. If a building needs a more detailed check, we arrange for a trained specialist to visit and carry out a Legionella Risk Assessment.
These checks normally take place every two years, or sooner if needed. We use the findings to put in place a simple, clear plan to keep water systems safe.
How we check homes without shared water systems
Each year, we check a sample of individual homes (flats and bungalows) that don’t have a full assessment, to make sure everything is safe.
Water safety in empty rented homes
If a rented property is empty for more than a week, we follow our Void Water Safety Process. This includes flushing toilets, running taps and showers, cleaning or replacing shower heads, and checking the water system before a new resident moves in.
Preventing scalding with Thermostatic Mixer Valves
In some homes, we fit Thermostatic Mixer Valves (TMVs). These valves help keep hot water at a safe temperature. We fit TMVs in places like shared bathrooms and other areas where water needs extra temperature control. TMVs are checked every year to make sure they are working properly.
Removing old pipework
Where Anchor is responsible for the pipework, if we find any lead pipes, we will remove them. In older buildings where lead might still be present, we may take water samples to ensure it is safe.
What you can do to help keep your water system healthy
Even though the risk is low, a few quick actions can help keep your water system healthy. To lower the risk of potentially harmful bacteria building up, you should do the following:
- If Anchor is responsible for your water system and the temperature of your water changes, either the hot cools down or the cold temperature goes up, please let us know. During periods of really hot weather, cold water can get hotter than the recommended 20°C. Running the cold tap for longer may help this
- If you have a tap or shower that you do not use regularly, run the water from these taps or shower for at least two minutes every seven days
- If you have a shower in your home, clean and descale the shower head and hose every three months
- Don’t switch off your immersion heater/hot water tank or change the temperature settings. Keeping these at a pre-set temperature is an important way to prevent bacteria growing
- If you have an independent boiler in your home, make sure the thermostat on the boiler is set at 60°C (this is different to the thermostat you use for the room temperature). If unsure how to do this, you should follow the manufacturer's instructions.
If you are away from your home for more than seven days, on your return:
- Heat up your water system to the normal temperature for an hour before running the water
- Run every tap for at least two minutes.
- For showers, remove the shower head and lower the hose to the base of the shower/bath or put a plastic bag with holes in over the shower head, run it for three minutes and then use it normally.
- Remember that when flushing taps or other outlets open them slowly so you don’t splash water or release water droplets in the air.
Letting us know if you want to make changes to the water system in your home
If you want to install a shower, it must be run from the mains supply and not the tank. Before making any changes to any part of the water system, you must seek our written permission.
How to use water butts safely
We’re happy for you to use water butts where you live. Using water butts can carry a small risk of legionella. You can reduce this risk by avoiding anything that pressurises or sprays the water, as this can create tiny droplets that are easier to breathe in.
Please use a watering can when taking water from a water butt. You can add a watering rose if you need to, as this doesn’t create a noticeable spray. Under no circumstances should you connect a submersible pump, garden hose, or pressure washer to a water butt.
Need help or advice?
If you have concerns about water temperature, leaks, unused fixtures or anything else, please speak to your location manager or contact the Customer Experience Hub on 0800 731 2020.
Free advice on energy costs and running expenses
If you are worried about energy costs or running expenses, please contact our Be Wise team on 0800 023 4477 or [email protected] who can offer advice and support.
This website uses cookies which track activity so that you get the best possible experience. By continuing to use this website we will assume you are happy and cookies will be set. You can change your cookie settings at any time.