Ensure your pool is compliant!

Recent changes to the Swimming Pool Act (2012) now mean that householders need to register their pools to improve safety. If not registered by the cutoff date of October 29th pool owners will risk a fine for having a non-registered pool. For those NSW pool-owners who haven’t already done so visit www.swimmingpoolregister.nsw.gov.au

Pool owners will also be required to provide a valid compliance certificate before being able to sell or lease a property with a pool, as of April 29th 2014. The swimming compliance certificate certifies that the swimming pool barrier fencing complies with the relevant standard and will be valid for a period of 3 years. There will be a cost of doing this which will be payable to the relevant council, with council inspectors inspecting pools onsite for compliance.

As buyers’ agents, we welcome the introduction of this new legislation, as whenever we inspect a property with a pool, it isn’t easy to ensure that the safety features are always compliant. Purchasers often need to engage the services of a separate inspector to ensure the fences and gates are both compliant and meet current regulations. By putting the onus back onto the seller, it’s about time and a wise move by councils.  Not only will this serve to improve pool safety here in NSW and hopefully lessen the statistics on infant drownings but it will also heighten awareness of both sellers and buyers in ensuring and maintaining high safety standards.