If you own a holiday home with a hot tub and rent it out to paying guests, you must comply with HSG282. This is a legal requirement – not a guideline – and applies to all UK properties used for short-term letting, including lodges, cottages, and glamping pods.
Failure to comply can lead to enforcement action, legal claims, or even prosecution if a guest becomes ill.
This guide explains what HSG282 is, why it matters, and what you need to do to make sure your property meets the standard.
What is HSG282?
HSG282 is a document published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Its full title is:
HSG282 – The control of legionella and other infectious agents in spa-pool systems.
It sets out specific guidance for controlling health risks in hot tubs used in a commercial setting, such as:
- Holiday lets
- Lodges in holiday parks
- Airbnb-style rentals
- Hotels or cottages with private hot tubs
The focus is on preventing Legionnaires’ disease – a potentially fatal lung infection caused by inhaling Legionella bacteria from contaminated water droplets.
Haulfryn and Finlake have had a few visits following some complaints and are being quite hot on this.
Does HSG282 Apply to My Property?
Yes, as your property is let out to paying guests and has a hot tub or spa pool
As soon as it’s made available to paying guests, you and I take on legal responsibilities.
Why Is HSG282 So Important?
Legionella bacteria thrive in warm, untreated or poorly maintained water, especially in:
- Hot tubs
- Spa pools
- Water systems with dead legs or standing water
Guests are at risk if they:
- Inhale steam or spray from contaminated water
- Use poorly cleaned or improperly dosed hot tubs
- Share hot tubs with other guests who may be unwell
Holiday parks, property managers, and owners have all faced legal claims from guests who became sick after using hot tubs that didn’t meet HSE standards.
What Does HSG282 Require?
To be compliant with HSG282, holiday let owners must take the following steps:
1. Install a Suitable Hot Tub
The hot tub must:
- Be designed for use by up to 6 people max
- Have continuous filtration and disinfection
- Fully drain and refill between guests
Allow safe and easy access for cleaning and testing
Rotationally moulded hot tubs with domestic-style design (e.g. Lay-Z-Spas or basic garden tubs) are not suitable for use in a holiday let. These cannot meet the drainage and disinfection standards required.
2. Daily Water Testing
The hot tub water must be tested at least once every day, including:
- Free chlorine or bromine levels
- pH levels
- Turbidity or clarity
- Temperature
This is why there has been a shift in the water chemical check fee from when the guests are in resident to all of the time.
These readings must be recorded and stored. Digital or paper logs are acceptable, but must be accessible in case of inspection. We are working with our web developer to get this form digitally created.
3. Water Replacement Between Bookings
The hot tub must be:
- Drained
- Cleaned
- Refilled
- Disinfected
Between every set of guests.
Topping up water is not allowed. Full water replacement is required to minimise risk of infection from previous users, and chemicals regally checked even when no guests are present.
4. Why check my hot-tub chemicals if no guests are staying?
Hot tub chemicals should be checked regularly even when no guests are staying.
Here’s why:
1. Stagnant water is a risk
- If the water sits untreated, bacteria like Legionella can grow. Chemicals can run out within 1-3 days.
- Stagnant water with no movement or disinfection can quickly become unsafe
2. HSG282 requires ongoing maintenance
- The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) expects continuous monitoring, where guests are in or not.
- This includes daily or regular checks, even during empty periods
3. Hot tubs need circulation
- Many systems run filters or low-level heating constantly
- These still need chemical balance to stop bacteria forming in pipework
4. Prevents problems when guests return
- If left unchecked, the water could go cloudy, smelly, or cause damage to the tub
- Getting it back to a safe condition would take more time and cost
5. Daily, Weekly Checks and Monthly Microbiological Testing
- Daily: Check Chlorine Levels, Bromine levels
- Weekly: Clean filters, inspect jets, and shock dose if required
- Monthly or Quarterly: Carry out microbiological sampling, especially if there’s heavy use or known issues
6. Keep Maintenance Logs
We must maintain:
- Daily test records
- Service and maintenance logs
- Filter cleaning schedules
- Water change records
- Guest usage logs (optional but recommended)
Keep these records for at least 5 years, as they may be requested during a health and safety inspection or legal investigation.
7. Chemicals
How long hot tub chemicals last before they run out depends on several things:
7.1 Type of chemical
- Chlorine or bromine: These sanitise the water but break down over time
- pH adjusters: Only used when needed, so they last longer
- Shock treatments: Used weekly or after heavy use
- Anti-scale or anti-foam products: Used occasionally, depending on water quality
7.2 Usage of the hot tub
- The more guests use the tub, the faster sanitiser is used up
- Heavy use means more body oils, lotions, and contaminants
- After each use, chlorine or bromine drops noticeably
7.3. Exposure to sunlight and heat
- UV light breaks down chlorine and bromine
- Outdoor tubs in direct sun need more frequent top-ups
- Covers help slow chemical loss
7.4 Water circulation and filtration
- Poor circulation = uneven chemical distribution = quicker drop-off
- A well-running system keeps water cleaner and extends chemical effectiveness
- Ensure all jets are working, and the pump is in full working order and a clean filter will aid the health of your hot-tub, with servicing needed minimum yearly depending on usage.
7.5 Rough guide for sanitiser levels:
- Chlorine: lasts 1–3 days in water, depending on load
- Bromine: slightly more stable, lasts 3–5 days
- Both need daily checking when in use
- In low-use periods, check every 2–3 days
7.6 What is done on the daily/bi daily chemical checks??
Despite some comments this is not just a way of printing money. by the contractors but is a legal requirement.Within each daily visit the team will
- If chlorine drops below 3 ppm
- If bromine drops below 4 ppm
- After guests use the tub
- If the water looks cloudy or smells off
7. Conduct a Legionella Risk Assessment
This is a legal requirement under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations.
Your risk assessment should include:
- Identification of potential risk areas
- Measures taken to reduce those risks
- Monitoring and maintenance plan
- Record of who’s responsible
This should be reviewed annually or whenever there’s a change (e.g. new tub or system).
What Happens If We Don’t Comply?
If your property is found to be non-compliant:
- You could be issued with a prohibition notice – your hot tub may need to be removed
- You could be held legally liable if a guest falls ill
- Your insurance may be invalidated
- You could be fined or prosecuted for breaches under Health and Safety law
More importantly, someone could become seriously unwell from a preventable cause.
How We Help Owners Stay Compliant
If you let your holiday lodge through us, we offer a fully managed hot tub service that meets HSG282 in full.
Our team:
- Conducts daily/by-daily water testing and logs all results
- Performs full water changes between bookings
- Services and cleans filters weekly
- Provides full documentation
We also negotiated fixed daily pricing for hot tub maintenance, so costs are predictable and manageable, as well as negotiating a heavily reduced price for Hot-Tub servicing.
Final Thoughts
HSG282 is not just a box-ticking exercise, or a way for our contractor to print money. It’s about protecting your guests – and protecting yourself from legal and financial risk.
As you’re letting out a holiday property with a hot tub, we must all take these responsibilities seriously. The consequences of cutting corners can be severe.
If you’re unsure about your current setup or need help bringing your lodge up to standard, speak to us. We’re here to help you stay compliant and keep your guests safe.