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Let's talk about hot tubs...

We know people have a bit of a love/hate relationship with hot tubs, and we can understand why. Let’s face it, they can be pretty gross. They’re used week in week out, they have different bodies in them constantly, when you get in a hot tub, everything on your body ends up in the hot tub, too— including sweat, dirt, oil, grime, bodily fluids. A lot of this stuff is harmless

And the question of whether to install a hot tub or not in your holiday home is one that is asked by many owners. For many, it is a desirable addition to their property and there has certainly been an increase in the number of holiday homes that can offer their guests this experience. 

So in response to this increase, the Health and Safety Executive published guidance for anyone responsible for managing hot tubs as part of a business. Whilst following the Health and Safety Guidance 282 (HSE282) is not compulsory, but every holiday house owner has a ‘general duty of care’ to assess the risks associated with a hot tub and to ensure these are minimised as much as reasonably practical. 

One of the main risks associated with hot tubs is Legionnaires’ disease. As a holiday house owner your ‘general duty of care’ means you are obliged to take the right precautions to reduce the risks of guests’ exposure to bacteria such as legionella. In order to ensure that water quality is strictly maintained it is essential that hot tubs are disinfected and pH and sanitiser levels are tested and recorded on a regular basis. The Health and Safety Executive has produced useful guidelines on Legionnaires’ disease and you can find out more about what your responsibilities are as a holiday home owner here.  

As an owner, you should protect yourself against the potential cost of any accidents that might occur, and it’s a good idea to ensure your insurance includes the guests’ use of a hot tub, should you have one. 

As the Lettings/Managing agents, we also have a duty of care to ensure those bubbles won’t be doing more harm than good. I mean, we could just take your money and keep our fingers crossed that nothing goes wrong (as we know some do), but that would be rather reckless of us. So, what do we do for our guests?

  • Personally ensure all our tubs are checked by qualified and experienced staff
  • Ensure all tubs have full chemical checks every 2/3 days
  • Never leave chemicals on site at properties
  • Complete a guest and tub risk assessment at every changeover
  • Provide a signed and dated risk assessment for the guests to peruse
  • Provide emergency contact details for each set of guests, at check in
  • Keep records of all dip tests on file
  • Ensure all our owners have the correct insurances, and of course we have our own Personal and Public liability
  • Provide copies of staff training certificates in our welcome packs
 
Fortunately, there are hot tubs specifically designed for holiday lets with commercial needs in mind. Many of which are now HSG282 compliant. These tubs offer easy to use controls, allowing guests limited access to basic functions. As with any high-value item, it is worth doing a bit of research before you invest.
 
 
 
  • Who manages the tub? If something goes wrong, who do guests need to contact? 
  • Name of staff member or contractor attending to the tub, along with contact details and name of the Management Company. 
  • Proof of training and competence of staff managing the tub 
  • What happens at each changeover? Provide a comprehensive list of the processes undertaken 
  • What happens next? Who will be coming to check the chemicals and when? 
 
 
 
So fancy treating yourself to a hot tub holiday? Heidi Corner in Winterton, The Vicarage in Cromer, Vale Cottage in Bacton & Eagle Rock in Applecross, Scotland all include this luxury treat. Head over to our website now to book! 💁🏼‍♀️
 
https://www.eastcoasthideaways.co.uk/all-properties/