LANDLORDS in Pembrokeshire could face heavy fines – and jail time in worst-case scenarios – if they fail to address the risks of Legionnaires’ disease in rental properties.

Fines of up to £20,000, or a custodial sentence if a tenant dies after contracting the disease, are now enforceable under the new Renters’ Rights Act which came into effect on Friday, May 1.

It comes after latest figures from the UK Health Security Agency found 472 cases of legionellosis were identified in 2024, 13 of which proved to be fatal.

The disease is a severe form of pneumonia and is most likely to affect older adults, particularly smokers and those with weakened immune systems or chronic diseases such as cancer or diabetes.

It is spread in temperatures between 20 to 45 degrees Celsius by contaminating water systems and being inhaled through water droplets which are discharged from showerheads, hot tubs and humidifiers.

Amid increased risks of hefty fines, home assessors have developed a new e-learning platform – Legionella Guard – for landlords to ensure properties in their name adhere to updated regulations.

Leah Stone, Director of Legionella Guard, said managing the risk of Legionnaires’ disease should be treated equally seriously as reducing the risk of more obvious home hazards such as gas and fire safety.

“Legionnaires’ disease is a deadly risk hiding in plain sight,” said Leah.

“It’s overlooked by homeowners, a frightening number of which are completely unaware of the disease and the very real risk it poses to those who are vulnerable.

“It is now a legal duty for landlords to manage the risk of infection.

“Historically, guidance has been vague, confusing and often ignored. And professional inspections are expensive.

“This tool protects landlords from unintentional noncompliance which could have devastating consequences.”

Failure for landlords to assess and control the risk of Legionnaires’ disease is now a criminal breach.

Legionella Guard works by making it simple for landlords to develop a basic understanding of Legionella, how it grows and what it needs to thrive. Evidence of action being taken to prevent bacteria growth can also be stored securely to avoid conviction.

Leah said all landlords should be completing an annual risk assessment.

She added: “It’s to primarily protect your tenants, but also yourself.

“Once landlords complete our straightforward e-learning programme, they can ask risk independently without having to pay large fees to third parties.

“It’s a simple solution the sector has been crying out for, and is available to letting agents, local authorities, housing associations and private landlords.”

Primary symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease include chest pain, a cough, high temperature and shortness of breath. Further information about Legionella Guard is available online via www.legionella-guard.co.uk. 

Independent group leader says she has “never been a member of any political party”

QUESTIONS have been raised over the political background of one of the councillors seeking to become the next Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council after photographs resurfaced showing her attending a Jeremy Corbyn rally holding an anti-Tory placard.

The authority is guaranteed to elect its first female Leader at Friday’s Annual General Meeting, with three women contesting the top job following the end of Cllr Jon Harvey’s two-year term as leader.

The candidates are Cllr Tessa Hodgson, an unaffiliated independent and cabinet member for social services, Conservative group leader Cllr Di Clements, and Cllr Anji Tinley, the recently elected leader of the council’s Independent Political Group.

Tinley was first elected to the council in 2022.

Photos from a Jeremy Corbyn rally held in Haverfordwest ahead of the 2019 General Election show Tinley prominently holding a placard bearing the slogans “KICK THE TORIES OUT!” and “Back Corbyn vote Labour”.

The placard also carried Socialist Worker branding and featured an image of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

One photograph shows Tinley standing near the front of the crowd holding the placard, while another shows her at the same event as former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn during his appearance in Castle Square.

The resurfaced photographs have prompted questions over Tinley’s political background and how that sits with her current leadership of the Independent Political Group, which contains councillors from a range of political viewpoints, including former Conservatives.

Political arithmetic

The council chamber remains finely balanced politically following a series of recent deaths and by-elections.

With the Independent Political Group currently holding 18 seats following the death of longstanding member Cllr Brian Hall, whose seat remains vacant pending a by-election, observers believe Tinley would require support from outside her own group to secure victory.

The Conservative group is the smallest organised political group in the chamber and is expected to back its own leader, Cllr Clements, in the opening round of voting.

That could potentially leave Tinley and Hodgson facing a second-round run-off vote — creating the politically unusual scenario in which Tinley may require Conservative support despite the anti-Tory messaging shown in the 2019 photographs.

Tinley responds

Responding to questions from The Herald, Cllr Tinley confirmed she attended the event but rejected suggestions that it reflected her current political role.

She said: “I do not dispute that I attended the event referenced in 2019. This was during the period leading up to a General Election nearly seven years ago, before I entered local politics, and I have never been a member of any political party.

“The political landscape has changed considerably since then. My role in local government today is as an Independent councillor and leader of the Independent Political Group.

“I am independent for a reason: I am not subject to party whipping, and I am free to vote in what I believe are the best interests of the people I represent and of Pembrokeshire as a whole.”

She added: “I do not bring national party politics into council decision-making. Within the Independent Group, there are councillors with a range of political backgrounds and views. Still, at the local government level, we work together independently and make decisions based on what we believe is right for Pembrokeshire rather than on party-political instruction.”

Tinley also suggested relationships within County Hall had become strained during the current administration.

“However, working together with the administration has not happened in chambers during four out of a five-year term,” she said.

She added: “Residents expect councillors to work pragmatically across political differences to deliver for local communities, and that has always been my approach. I have worked constructively with councillors from different political backgrounds and would continue to do so as council leader.”

New rules from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) come into effect from tomorrow, changing how practical driving tests can be booked, amended and cancelled across the UK.

From now on, only the learner driver taking the test will be allowed to book, change or cancel their own practical driving test appointment. The change is part of a wider effort to reduce the use of third-party and unofficial booking services that have been used to secure earlier test dates.

The latest update follows earlier reforms introduced in March, when the number of times a booking could be amended was reduced from six to two. The DVSA says the combined changes are aimed at improving fairness and availability in the booking system.

Matt Crole-Rees, motoring expert at Confused.com, said the new rules could make the process more restrictive for learners already struggling with long waiting times and limited availability.

“From tomorrow, new DVSA rules mean only the learner taking the test will be able to book, change or cancel their practical driving test appointment. This is another big shift for learners trying to get on the roads, especially following the earlier March changes that reduced the number of booking amendments allowed from 6 to 2,” he said.

He added that while the measures are intended to clamp down on unofficial booking services, they may also reduce flexibility for genuine learners trying to manage their test dates.

He continued: “Our research shows that since 2021, around 6 million driving tests have been taken, but only about half resulted in a pass. Pass rates can also vary hugely between test centres, ranging from as low as 33% to as high as 80%. For learners in lower-performing areas or places with long waiting times, having less flexibility around bookings could mean more retakes, more waiting and higher overall costs.”

Crole-Rees also urged learners to plan more carefully before booking a test, highlighting the importance of preparation and choosing test centres strategically based on performance data.

“It’s more important than ever for learners to think before they book their test. Plan carefully, only take the test when really prepared, and understand how local test centres perform before booking in,” he said.

He pointed to Confused.com’s driving test pass rate calculator as a tool to help learners compare nearby centres before committing to a booking.

The changes mark another step in the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s ongoing efforts to reform the driving test system amid sustained demand and long waiting times in parts of the UK.