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Holiday homes that provide the additional luxury of a hot tub ensure a relaxing and memorable break for guests. Setting themselves apart from competition. Our hot tub guide for holiday lets details important rules, guidelines, maintenance and more.
You’ll have all the information you need to provide guests with a relaxing experience, as well as creating a lucrative investment for your letting future. Read on to find out more.
Use the quick links below to skip to a particular topic or continue reading for our complete hot tub guide for holiday lets:
A holiday let hot tub is a sought-after feature for guests when booking a break.
So much so, the term ‘holiday cottages with hot tubs’ has increased in search frequency by 175% in the last 3 months.
Google identified that in the last twelve months there were 49,500 average monthly searches for the phrase ‘cottages with hot tubs’, 135 000 monthly searches for the phrase ‘lodges with hot tubs’ and 40,500 monthly searches for the phrase ‘hot tub breaks’ – a staggering 400% increase to previous years.
With this level of interest, it goes without saying that self-catering properties with hot tubs are high in demand. According to the Sykes Staycation Index 62% of guests seek properties with hot tubs. And holiday lets with hot tubs earn 54% more than those without
Not just for long summer nights, a hot tub provides year-round appeal. Allowing guests to make the most of their holidays even out of season. Especially in the colder months, guests will appreciate the added appeal of coming back from a blustery walk to sit under the stars in a warming, bubbling oasis. A memorable holiday highlight.
A haven of relaxation, a hot tub ‘ups the ante’ in a holiday cottage and gives your property a ‘unique selling point’. Increasing its desirability. When faced with increasing competition, having a differentiating factor will set you apart from the crowd. Especially if you wish to command a good rental rate. Little ‘extras’ could really make the difference between someone booking your holiday let over another.
Many customers often seek to book a holiday cottage that offers them luxuries they don’t have at home. Downtime with family and friends is the ultimate luxury, and there is no better place to spend it than in a hot tub. Having a unique experience which offers something special like this is likely to increase guest satisfaction, which could result in positive reviews.
A hot tub should be a real feature of your holiday cottage so make sure you are making the most of any views. After all, what could be better than relaxing in a warming tub with friends and family while looking out over the seaside or rolling green countryside? An impressive vista is definitely a desirable attribute, making for a truly relaxing holiday.
Provide guests a haven of relaxation, where they’re able to cut off the outside world and simply relax in privacy. Strategically placed gazebos or screening with fencing and climbing plants or shrubbery will give guests a degree of privacy and ensure the spot isn’t overlooked.
For more top tips and other ideas, read our blog on how to maximise your holiday lets outdoor space.
Whilst a hot tub could be the reason a guest chooses your property over your competition, as a holiday let owner it’s important to ensure that you provide a safe and relaxing environment.
By implementing some basic house rules and safety guidelines, your guests will be warm, cosy and in the midst of tranquil bliss, sipping on fizz and watching the sunset in no time. The most convenient way to include these instructions and any other property information is in your guest information pack.
Every hot tub is different, so it’s important to provide guests with clear and simple instructions that demonstrate the functionality of the tub. From where to store the cover when it’s not in use to how to switch it on/off. As well as guidance on how to operate the temperature and jets.
Having comprehensive instructions will make life easier for guests and ensure that your holiday let hot tub is used properly.
The key to protecting a hot tub is making sure guests cover it up when not in use. Keeping the cover on not only keeps a hot tub clean, preventing debris, but it also acts as an insulator to keep it warm for when guests want to use it again. Making sure a cover is in situ and properly secured will provide guests peace of mind. Allowing them to relax if there are children and pets about.
It is always a good idea to encourage guests to shower with their costumes on before using the hot tub. This will help to remove detergents, cosmetics and lotions from the body, helping the water stay clean.
Accidents happen, so be prescriptive about guests not using glass in or around the hot tub. Reduce any potential risk by specifying guests do not eat or drink in the tub. Alternatively, provide plastic glasses for use around the tub to prevent them using glass.
Make sure that everyone is kept safe by making it clear that non-swimmers and children should not be left unattended. Generally, it’s advised that children under the age of five shouldn’t be allowed to use a hot tub.
For the purpose of both safety and comfort, every hot tub is designed for a maximum number of bathers at one time. Advise guests what the limit is and let them know that this should be strictly adhered to.
It is important to understand the guidance on operating and maintaining hot tubs to make them safe and enjoyable. The Health & Safety Executive has published guidance for anyone responsible for managing hot tubs as part of a business activity.
Every property owner has a general care of duty to assess a hot tub’s risk and implement appropriate measures to ensure guest safety. By following a few simple steps and guidelines, it allows you to ensure that you are compliant.
Find out more on the Health & Safety Guidance 282 (HSG282) document.
Ultimately, the guidance is there to protect both guests as well as the holiday let business owners. Offering advice on effective ways to safely manage and control systems through various testing, inspections, operation and maintenance. Other important information and guidelines can be found on the British and Irish Spa and hot tub association (BISHTA) website.
All self-catering holiday homes are subject to specific holiday let rules and regulations. As an owner, it’s imperative to know and understand the legal requirements for letting your holiday property. For more insight into what you need to know as an owner, read more on our blog about holiday let rules and regulations.
For the health and safety of your guests, cleaning your holiday lets hot tub is essential. Having a suitable cleaning routine and using the correct products is key. Making your hot tub cleaning regime easier while prolonging your hot tub’s longevity.
Once the tub is completely drained, it’s recommended you wipe all the surfaces with a soft cloth or tub scrubber to remove any sediment, dirt or debris.
Part of the process is also to check and ensure that the filter is clean. A filter works continuously to trap particles in the water, keeping a hot tub clean. So it’s important to check that the filters are rinsed and working properly. Finally, make sure the cover is regularly cleaned, especially the underside.
Hot tubs do require specialist cleaning products. Regular household products are often unsuitable and can cause issues with water maintenance and possibly damage the tub’s structure. It’s recommended to adhere to the manufacturer’s guidance on cleaning products which have been developed specifically for individual hot tubs.
A hot tub in a holiday cottage will need to be drained, cleaned and refilled at each changeover. Once refilled, your hot tub will then need to have the pH level balanced and water sanitised.
Depending on its size, most hot tubs take between three to eight hours to get back up to the desired temperature. So it is probably worth letting guests know that it might need a bit of time to heat up the water before they have a soak.
In order to ensure your hot tub remains clean and protected, and the water quality is safe for guests, it’s important to ensure you have a suitable water sanitiser. A sanitiser kills bacteria and purifies the water. It is the most critical component to a healthy hot tub experience.
Chlorine and bromine are the two commonly used disinfectants and are most effective at keeping a hot tub clean. Other chemicals needed for a hot tub are pH increasers for when the water is too acidic, and pH decreasers for when the water is too alkaline. Both sanitiser and pH levels can be checked using specific testing strips.
To keep a hot tub running smoothly, it’s recommended that it is professionally serviced on a regular basis to keep it in an optimum condition. A full service usually includes a complete overhaul of the hot tub, a deep clean from top to bottom, and a thorough clean of the internal plumbing and filtration system.
Contact your hot tub supplier regarding service and maintenance requirements or get in touch with our Managed Services team who will be able to assist you in finding a trusted local contact.
Hot tub maintenance is fairly straightforward and if done properly will keep your investment in great condition, safe and ready for guests to use.
It is essential to plan the layout of the hot tub’s installation and consider the area you want it installed. When filled with water and people a hot tub is extremely heavy so it will need a strong, solid, level base to support it.
While the ideal hot tub temperature varies from person to person and depends on factors such as age, health, and personal preference, 37-38 degrees Celsius tends to be a comfortable bathing temperature. Both BISHTA and the HSE HSG282 recommend that the water temperature in your hot tub should not exceed 40 degrees Celsius.
Hot tub cleaning chemicals should always be used safely and stored in a locked location or out of the reach of children.
Use adequate and safe non-slip materials on steps and flooring. Installing anti-skid treads for steps and providing rubber mats on floors will safeguard guests from accidents as they enter or leave the tub.
Depending on where your hot tub is installed, you may want to consider using sand paint for decked areas or make sure the flooring around the tub is non-slip. Providing additional towels or keeping a mop handy will help guests keep the floor dry after use.
The best hot tub for your holiday let will ensure you comply with legal responsibilities, provide a variety of low-maintenance features, and also manage the safety and satisfaction of your guests.
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.
There are many variables to factor into the overall running cost of a holiday let hot tub.
It is essential to work out the cost of operating a holiday let hot tub and to keep track of all your outgoings in order to make your holiday let business a success. For more information, read our blog on what is the cost of running a holiday let?
Planning permission is not usually required for installing a hot tub, but it is always worth checking with your local authority to be certain. In some cases there will be a requirement. For example if your hot tub is in a conservation area, or it forms part of a structure in your garden or property. If you are in doubt about whether planning is required, check with your local planning office for clarification.
Read more on our guide to understand the importance of holiday let planning permission.
A comprehensive holiday letting insurance policy is essential and is designed to protect you, your holiday cottage and visiting guests. You will need to make sure your insurance covers any damage or accidents that might occur as a result of a specific feature like a hot tub.
For detailed information on why it’s important to have the necessary cover, read our holiday let insurance guide.
Though it can seem like there are a lot of rules and restrictions in place with having a holiday let hot tub, if managed properly a hot tub can be an amazing addition to a property. With opportunity for increased occupancy, higher revenue and most importantly a haven for guests to unwind. A holiday hot tub is an investment that offers fantastic potential to your property.
Whether you are considering letting your holiday home or you already have a holiday letting business, the following owner guides may be useful to you:
If you own a holiday home and you’re looking at other ways to improve your property, visit our property owners blog for a whole host of advice. With over 20 years’ experience, from advice on energy performance certificates to housekeeping and laundry, our team are here to help!
To find out more about holiday letting with Coast & Country Cottages, request your FREE owners guide today or call our team of holiday letting experts.
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