Question 1

Does HSG282 apply to my Airbnb or holiday let?

Accepted Answer

Yes, if the hot tub is provided as part of a paid stay. HSG282 is the HSE's guidance for spa pools used in connection with a business, and that explicitly includes hot tubs at holiday lets, B&Bs and holiday parks. Domestic tubs used only by your own family are outside its scope.

Question 2

How often do I need to test the water?

Accepted Answer

For a holiday-let style tub, HSG282 expects the water to be tested at least twice a day while guests have use of it - typically before first use and again later in the day - with the results recorded in a written log.

Question 3

What chlorine level should a holiday-let hot tub run at?

Accepted Answer

HSG282 gives a range of 3-5 mg/l free chlorine (or 4-6 mg/l bromine if you sanitise with bromine) for business spa pools, alongside a pH of 7.0-7.6. That is a higher band than most domestic guidance, which is one reason a compliance routine matters.

Question 4

Do I really have to empty the tub between every set of guests?

Accepted Answer

For holiday lets, yes - HSG282 expects a full drain, clean and refill between each group of guests, plus a routine shock dose. It's also expected that the tub is drained and cleaned if it's been out of use.

Question 5

What records do I need to keep?

Accepted Answer

A written log of your test results, chemical dosing, water changes and cleaning, plus your risk assessment and the safety data sheets (SDS) for the chemicals you store. Records should be kept for at least five years. ClearSpa's free Water Insight tool can keep your test history for you.

Question 6

Can I use an inflatable hot tub for my holiday let?

Accepted Answer

HSG282 doesn't consider inflatable spa pools acceptable for commercial use, because they can't be cleaned and continuously disinfected reliably. For a business tub the guidance expects a rigid pool with a continuous automatic dosing system.

Question 7

Do I need to send water off for legionella testing?

Accepted Answer

Routine microbiological sampling - for legionella and pseudomonas - is part of the HSG282 regime and is carried out by an accredited laboratory, not a test strip. How often you sample is set by your risk assessment; your daily strip tests sit alongside it, they don't replace it.

Question 8

Do I also need a risk assessment as well as testing the water?

Accepted Answer

Yes. HSG282 expects a general health-and-safety risk assessment plus a COSHH assessment covering legionella and the chemicals you keep. Your test log and the safety data sheets support that assessment but aren't a substitute for writing it.

Question 9

Who is my regulator - the council or the HSE?

Accepted Answer

It depends on how much you let. As a rule of thumb, if you provide holiday accommodation for more than 20 weeks a year your local council's environmental health team is your regulator; below that, it's the HSE. Either way the same HSG282 duties apply.

Question 10

Can I get trade pricing for multiple properties?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We supply holiday parks, property managers and multi-property hosts at trade rates. Get in touch via our contact page with a few details about your site and we'll set your account up with trade pricing.

Hot Tub Chemicals for Holiday Lets & Airbnb