Legionella Risk and Water Hygiene for Devon Holiday Lets
When a holiday let in Devon sits empty or sees light use, water can stand in pipework, shower heads and little used outlets. This overview looks at how simple flushing routines can sit alongside your formal water hygiene duties.
This page is for general information only. It does not replace a Legionella risk assessment, HSE guidance or advice from a competent water hygiene professional.
Why standing water matters
When water sits unused in pipework and outlets it can lose the protective effect of regular movement and temperature changes. In certain conditions this can increase the risk from bacteria such as Legionella which is why water hygiene is a formal duty for landlords and holiday let owners.
Holiday lets often have periods of vacancy followed by intensive use. That pattern makes it important to think about what happens to the water system between guests, especially if parts of the property rarely see use.
Temperature and time
Bacteria associated with poor water hygiene tend to thrive in certain temperature ranges. Modern, insulated buildings and part heated properties can sit in that range for longer. Understanding how your own system behaves over time is part of a formal risk assessment.
Your legal duty as a holiday let owner
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), you have a legal duty to assess and control Legionella risk in any property you let. The HSE's Approved Code of Practice (ACoP L8) sets out how this should be done. For most small domestic holiday lets the risk is categorised as low, but the duty still applies and must be documented.
A written risk assessment is required by law. It must be carried out by a competent person, kept on record, and reviewed whenever circumstances change, such as after renovation, a long vacancy, or a change to the water system. Failure to have one in place leaves you without evidence of due diligence if a guest is ever affected.
- Written Legionella risk assessment required and kept on file.
- Assessment must be reviewed after renovation, extended vacancy or system changes.
- Records of flushing, monitoring and any remedial action should be retained.
- Hot and cold water systems both fall within scope of the duty.
- Insurance policies for holiday lets may ask specifically about water hygiene compliance.
What a Legionella risk assessment looks at
A formal risk assessment examines the whole water system in your property. For a simple domestic holiday let this is typically straightforward, but there are specific areas that need to be considered carefully.
- Cold water storage: tank location, insulation and water temperature at outlets.
- Hot water cylinder: storage temperature (should reach 60°C or above), thermostat setting and recovery time.
- Distribution temperatures: hot water should reach 50°C at outlets within one minute.
- Dead legs: sections of pipe that no longer serve active outlets and where water can stagnate.
- Infrequently used outlets: en-suite bathrooms, utility rooms and outside taps that guests rarely use.
- Showerheads and flexible hoses: the highest-risk items in most domestic properties.
- Property use pattern: long gaps between guest stays increase the risk period.
Showerheads, flexible hoses and high-risk outlets
Showerheads and flexible hoses are the highest-risk items in most domestic holiday lets. They can harbour biofilm, warm up quickly when not in use, and produce aerosols when running, which is the primary route of Legionella exposure. Limescale inside showerheads also provides a surface for bacteria to colonise, so regular descaling is part of good water hygiene practice, not just aesthetics.
In a property with multiple bathrooms, the en-suite or second bathroom that sees less use is often the highest risk point. Guest behaviour varies considerably: an outlet that the owner expects to be used daily may go untouched for an entire short break. This unpredictability makes a pre-arrival flush routine more reliable than assuming guests will naturally flush outlets through normal use.
Practical guidance
Showerheads should be descaled and disinfected at least quarterly in a holiday let with high turnover. Monthly is advisable during peak season. When flushing showers between guests, run the head pointed into the tray or bath rather than into open air to limit aerosol exposure.
A simple flushing routine between periods of low use
Many owners choose to include a basic flushing routine as part of vacancy or pre arrival checks. The details and frequency should be based on your own risk assessment and advice from a competent person, but a typical pattern might include:
- Running all cold taps and mixers for a short period to draw fresh water through.
- Running hot taps long enough to confirm that stored hot water reaches an appropriate temperature.
- Running showers so that standing water is cleared from the hose and head.
- Flushing each toilet to refresh cistern water and spot any filling issues early.
- Checking and where appropriate draining or flushing outside taps, long hose runs and rarely used outlets.
Practical note
Always think about spray and mist from showers when flushing. Some operators choose to run shower heads gently into a container to reduce aerosols and then follow the specific advice from their water hygiene provider.
Common questions
Do I legally need a Legionella risk assessment for my holiday let?
Yes. Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and COSHH Regulations 2002, you have a legal duty to assess and control Legionella risk in any property you let. The HSE's Approved Code of Practice (ACoP L8) applies. For most small domestic holiday lets the risk is low, but the duty and the requirement to keep records still apply.
Can I do the Legionella risk assessment myself?
The HSE says the assessment must be carried out by a competent person. For a simple, low-risk domestic holiday let an owner can carry out their own assessment if they understand the risks and control measures. If the property has stored water tanks, complex systems or has had extended vacancies, a specialist water hygiene consultant is advisable.
How often should a Legionella risk assessment be reviewed?
There is no fixed legal interval, but the HSE says it should be reviewed whenever there is reason to believe it may no longer be valid: after significant renovation, a change in use, an extended vacancy, or a change in the water system. As a minimum, a review every two years is common practice.
What temperature should I store hot water at in my holiday let?
Hot water should be stored at 60 degrees Celsius or above to inhibit Legionella growth. Distribution should reach 50 degrees Celsius at outlets within one minute. If your cylinder thermostat is set lower than this, it should be reviewed by a qualified plumber or water hygiene specialist.
Can Acacia carry out flushing checks as part of a regular property visit?
Yes. Flushing routines can be built into regular Property Watch visits or pre-arrival checks. I log what was flushed, when, and any observations about temperature or water quality, which contributes to your ongoing compliance record alongside gas, electrical and fire safety documentation.
How this links to wider compliance
A flushing routine is only one part of water hygiene. Owners also need to think about stored hot water temperatures, dead legs, little used wings of the property and any higher risk features identified in a Legionella risk assessment.
My role is not to provide specialist water hygiene consultancy. Instead I build agreed routines such as flushing checks into regular visits and into your wider Holiday Let Compliance Audit. That way water hygiene is logged alongside gas, electrical and fire precautions rather than sitting in isolation.
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