Hot Tub and Swimming Pool Safety Standards

Everyone loves to be able to dip their toes in the water on holiday, even more so if it’s a private pool or hot tub! We highly recommend adding these luxurious extras to your holiday home if you have the space and resources to do so, but if you do, there are some important safety considerations to bear in mind.

Swimming Pool Safety

We recommend that you display a pool guide, including the following:

  • The pool is not supervised
  • Children must always be supervised by an adult
  • No adult should swim alone
  • No alcohol should be consumed if you are intending to swim
  • No glassware should be taken into the pool and pool area

In addition:

  • No diving signs should be displayed if the pool depth is under 1.5 metres
  • The depth of the pool should be clearly visible, easily read and accurate
  • The pool surround should have a non-slip surface with no broken or missing tiles
  • A buoyancy aid or pole should be accessible to guests in case of an emergency
  • Pool chemicals, filtration pumps and other mechanical equipment must be stored in a secure lockable cupboard
  • The Legionella Risk Assessment should be activated as per the manufacturer’s guidelines and should include shower heads and trays
  • An indoor pool should have a lockable door to ensure that it is secure when not open to guests
  • An outdoor pool should be enclosed by a fence – to a height that cannot be scaled by young children. It should also have a lockable gate of equal height or more to deter young children and teenagers

Hot Tub Safety

Homeowners have a duty of care to ensure that the water quality in a hot tub meets the manufacturers recommendation. Manufacturer’s instructions must always be adhered to. You are responsible for ensuring:

  • Regular changes of water in line with manufacturers guidance
  • Testing should be at least twice daily depending on risk assessment and usage, manufacturer’s instruction should also apply
  • Units should be maintained to manufacturers instruction
  • Microbiological testing is recommended monthly, and results recorded
  • Cartridges when supplied should be changed when a change of water occurs
  • The individual undertaking water checks should be trained and competent
  • A service contract should ensure that the Hot Tub is maintained correctly and is highly recommended

We also recommend that all facilities are serviced by an approved contractor for maintenance, water quality and temperature control in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations. If you are undertaking this yourself, you will need to ensure that you keep pool disinfection and chemical dosing records to keep you covered. For more thorough information, download are full-length health and safety guide, and to find out more about legionella risks, head to our Water Safety guide.

For more information, see Guidance on the control legionella and other infection agents (HSE.gov) 

This article was published on 18-May-22

Disclaimer: At the time of publishing, The Original Cottage Company Limited has taken all reasonable care to ensure that the information contained in this guide is accurate. However, no warranty or representation is given that the information is complete or free from errors or inaccuracies. This guide contains general information about laws applicable to holiday properties. This information is not advice and should not be treated as such. Compliance with legislation is the responsibility of the holiday property owner and The Original Cottage Company Limited assumes no liability in this regard. This guide is not intended to be a definitive statement of the law in England & Wales. If you require precise or more detailed information regarding financial, legal and tax legalisation we recommend you seek professional advice.

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