In short
- Check rails, seats, boards and raised toilet seats are still firmly fixed. Tighten or report anything loose.
- Check non-slip mats are stuck down before every use.
- Charge bath lift batteries regularly, outside the bathroom.
- Temperature controls need checking and maintaining. Ask your installer what servicing is needed.
- Run showers and taps that are not used often at least once a week.
Keep your paperwork
Keep the instructions, guarantees and any servicing details together, with the installer's phone number. Living Made Easy says equipment with moving parts or electrics "will have a service schedule recommended by the manufacturer which is included in the instruction manual".
Regular safety checks
| What | What to check | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Grab rails | Still firmly fixed to the wall, with no movement | NHS inform |
| Rails that clamp onto the bath | Still tight. Check regularly and tighten when needed | Living Made Easy |
| Bath boards | Brackets secure, especially if the board is taken off for others to use the bath | Living Made Easy |
| Raised toilet seats | Fastened securely and not moving | Living Made Easy |
| Non-slip mats | Firmly stuck down — before every use | Living Made Easy |
| Bath lift | Battery charged. Charge it outside the bathroom | Living Made Easy |
If something is loose or broken, stop using it and get it fixed. If the council provided it, contact the council.
Temperature controls
The Health and Safety Executive says thermostatic mixing valves and outlet temperatures "should be monitored and maintained to ensure the controls are effective", and that limescale and hard water should be taken into account. This guidance is written for care settings, but the same idea applies at home. Ask your installer what servicing your valve or shower needs, and how often.
If the water suddenly feels hotter or colder than usual, stop using it and get it checked. See preventing scalds.
Showers and taps you do not use often
Water that sits in pipes for a long time can let bacteria grow, such as the bacteria that cause Legionnaires' disease. HSE's guidance for landlords says outlets "should be used at least once a week" and that showerheads should be cleaned and disinfected regularly.
- If you have a shower or bath you rarely use — for example, an old bathroom upstairs — run it at least once a week.
- Clean and descale shower heads regularly.
HSE also says electric showers "pose less of a risk", because they are usually fed with cold water and heat only small amounts at a time.
Servicing contracts
Living Made Easy suggests thinking about whether you can afford a service contract for more complex equipment. Before you buy, ask what servicing is needed and what it costs. See questions to ask installers.
Sources we checked
- NHS inform: Prevent falls by doing a home safety check (opens another website)
- Living Made Easy: Bath lifts and hoists (opens another website)
- Living Made Easy: Adapting your home – the bathroom (factsheet) (opens another website)
- HSE: Scalding and burning (health and social care) (opens another website)
- HSE: Legionella and landlords' responsibilities (opens another website)
- HSE: Hot and cold water systems – things to consider (opens another website)
We last checked these sources on 3 October 2026. Rules and amounts can change, so please check with the organisation before you rely on them.
Get an assessment first
An occupational therapist (OT) can visit you at home and recommend what is safe and suitable for you. Ask your council’s adult social care team — in Northern Ireland, your Health and Social Care Trust.
This guide is general information, not medical, financial or legal advice. Everyone’s needs are different. Speak to an occupational therapist, your GP or the organisations we link to before making decisions.