Q: Water Risk

Q : We are a block of seven self-managed flats each with share of the freehold. The building has a tanks-fed water system installed when built in 1981. Due to this fact we have recently had a Risk Assessment and Water Hygiene Survey. This has now involved two contractors, one of which carried out the survey, which between them have quoted many thousands of pounds to upgrade the supply to "mandatory" standards required by legislation ACoP L8 (revision4) and HSG274. As we feel both contractors have a financial interest and gain in the project, do you know where we could obtain impartial advice on this matter? FPRA Chairman Bob Smytherman replies : My view as the FPRA specialist and someone who manages a self-managed block myself would be take seriously the findings of the Risk Assessment survey. You are quite right to seek further quotations other than that of the company that completed the survey. I would suggest seeking a third quote from a suitable contractor. Your local authority should be able to provide some impartial advice and a legal view as to whether or not you are meeting mandatory standards and what is required to do so. This information should then be presented to at least three companies to quote for any required works to meet those standards, as necessary. I would also recommend contacting Southern Water as your water supplier as they may do these works for you or to provide a further impartial view as to what you need to do to meet the mandatory standard.

Q: Water Risk

Q : We are a block of seven self-managed flats each with share of the freehold. The building has a tanks-fed water system installed when built in 1981. Due to this fact we have recently had a Risk Assessment and Water Hygiene Survey. This has now involved two contractors, one of which carried out the survey, which between them have quoted many thousands of pounds to upgrade the supply to "mandatory" standards required by legislation ACoP L8 (revision4) and HSG274. As we feel both contractors have a financial interest and gain in the project, do you know where we could obtain impartial advice on this matter? FPRA Chairman Bob Smytherman replies : My view as the FPRA specialist and someone who manages a self-managed block myself would be take seriously the findings of the Risk Assessment survey. You are quite right to seek further quotations other than that of the company that completed the survey. I would suggest seeking a third quote from a suitable contractor. Your local authority should be able to provide some impartial advice and a legal view as to whether or not you are meeting mandatory standards and what is required to do so. This information should then be presented to at least three companies to quote for any required works to meet those standards, as necessary. I would also recommend contacting Southern Water as your water supplier as they may do these works for you or to provide a further impartial view as to what you need to do to meet the mandatory standard.

Question 1

Water Risk

Accepted Answer

Q: We are a block of seven self-managed flats each with share of the freehold. The building has a tanks-fed water system installed when built in 1981. Due to this fact we have recently had a Risk Assessment and Water Hygiene Survey. This has now involved two contractors, one of which carried out the survey, which between them have quoted many thousands of pounds to upgrade the supply to "mandatory" standards required by legislation ACoP L8 (revision4) and HSG274. As we feel both contractors have a financial interest and gain in the project, do you know where we could obtain impartial advice on this matter? FPRA Chairman Bob Smytherman replies: My view as the FPRA specialist and someone who manages a self-managed block myself would be take seriously the findings of the Risk Assessment survey. You are quite right to seek further quotations other than that of the company that completed the survey. I would suggest seeking a third quote from a suitable contractor. Your local authority should be able to provide some impartial advice and a legal view as to whether or not you are meeting mandatory standards and what is required to do so. This information should then be presented to at least three companies to quote for any required works to meet those standards, as necessary. I would also recommend contacting Southern Water as your water supplier as they may do these works for you or to provide a further impartial view as to what you need to do to meet the mandatory standard.

Question 2

Water Risk

Accepted Answer

Q: We are a block of seven self-managed flats each with share of the freehold. The building has a tanks-fed water system installed when built in 1981. Due to this fact we have recently had a Risk Assessment and Water Hygiene Survey. This has now involved two contractors, one of which carried out the survey, which between them have quoted many thousands of pounds to upgrade the supply to "mandatory" standards required by legislation ACoP L8 (revision4) and HSG274. As we feel both contractors have a financial interest and gain in the project, do you know where we could obtain impartial advice on this matter? FPRA Chairman Bob Smytherman replies: My view as the FPRA specialist and someone who manages a self-managed block myself would be take seriously the findings of the Risk Assessment survey. You are quite right to seek further quotations other than that of the company that completed the survey. I would suggest seeking a third quote from a suitable contractor. Your local authority should be able to provide some impartial advice and a legal view as to whether or not you are meeting mandatory standards and what is required to do so. This information should then be presented to at least three companies to quote for any required works to meet those standards, as necessary. I would also recommend contacting Southern Water as your water supplier as they may do these works for you or to provide a further impartial view as to what you need to do to meet the mandatory standard.

Water Risk

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