Hot-tub buying frenzy fuels neighbours’ tensions

ONE of the silver linings of lockdown has been to bring neighbours closer together, but for some that proximity comes at a price: next door’s loud music, barbecue smoke and the latest craze — a bubbling hot tub.

As people resign themselves to a summer at home, many have invested in a garden Jacuzzi. Sales of hot tubs are up 490 per cent on ebay, and almost every style is sold out at Argos.

On Amazon, hot tubs feature heavily among “most wished for” products and many bestsellers, while firms have warned they have “very limited stock”. Social media is abuzz with complaints of neighbours’ lockdown-flouting “hot-tub parties” and gardens being flooded by emptied water.

May was the UK’S sunniest calendar month since records began, the Met Office said. Spring 2020 saw 626 hours of bright sunshine recorded, beating the previous high (555 hours, set in 1948) by more than 70 hours.

Avril Purchon, from Liverpool, wrote on Twitter: “My neighbours had a party last night with 11 attendees that I could count, and a hot tub that most if not all used. Meanwhile I can’t see my parents as they live in Hull, or hold a party for Lew’s birthday. Frustrating!”

Natasha Compton, of Birmingham, said: “Our neighbours have just emptied their hot tub and massive pool, as we both have artificial grass it’s flooded us & gone through into the other side too, fun times. We drain our hot tub into the drain so not to flood other houses after we learnt the hard way.”

Meanwhile, the Government and water charities warned against using hot tubs and paddling pools too frequently, and urged people to save water for an impending drought.

Demand for water is up 25 per cent for the time of year, and the Environment Agency does not know when the UK can next expect rain to fill its reservoirs.

A Defra spokesman urged people to “use water wisely and manage this precious resource” while industry body Water UK has said people should try not to use water at “peak times”, between 5pm and 10pm.