Swimming pools: the rules you must follow
Got a swimming pool at your rental? Have you checked that you are compliant?
Are you lucky enough to have a swimming pool at your rental? That is a real selling point! But have you checked properly that you are compliant?
Compulsory safety equipment
Whatever the size of your pool, and whether it is in-ground or partially in-ground, you must install at least one of the following 4 types of equipment:
- a safety fence
- an audible alarm system
- a safety cover
- an enclosure covering the whole pool
With this equipment in place, you will protect the people who come to stay with you and protect yourself against an accident.
The law requires you to choose from four solutions. Here's what each one offers and the consequences of no protection.
| Equipment | Required installation | Risk if absent |
|---|---|---|
| Protective barrier | One of the four devices is sufficient | Fine up to €45,000 and civil liability if accident occurs |
| Sonic alarm | One of the four devices is sufficient | Fine up to €45,000 and civil liability if accident occurs |
| Cover | One of the four devices is sufficient | Fine up to €45,000 and civil liability if accident occurs |
| Enclosure fully covering the pool | One of the four devices is sufficient | Fine up to €45,000 and civil liability if accident occurs |
Breaking the rules: what are the risks?
Here we are assuming that your pool has already been built and that you have completed the compulsory administrative formalities. We will only cover the risks you run if you do not install the required equipment.
If you fail to install this equipment, you face a fine of up to 45,000 €. Bear in mind, though, that it is up to whoever sold you the pool to provide you with a technical information note on safety equipment. If they do not, they face the same fine.
Beyond the financial side, if an accident could have been prevented by this equipment, you risk a court case you will lose, and a tragedy on your conscience. Now that you know it all, enjoy everything your pool has to offer! And if you are still struggling to attract guests, here are a few tips to bring them in!
Frequently asked questions
Which safety devices are compulsory for a pool in a holiday rental? Four devices are accepted: a protective fence, a sound alarm, a cover and a shelter that encloses the whole pool. You must install at least one of them. The requirement applies to in-ground and partly in-ground pools.
Do I need all four devices, or is one enough? One of the four is enough to comply. Nothing stops you from combining two if the layout of the pool worries you.
My pool is small. Am I still concerned? Yes. Size changes nothing: as soon as the pool is in-ground or partly in-ground, one of the four devices is required.
What do I risk if the pool has no safety device at all? The fine can reach 45,000 euros. The money is not the worst of it: if an accident could have been avoided by the missing device, you lose the case and you carry the tragedy with you.
Who has to give me the technical information note about the safety equipment? The company that sold you the pool. If it fails to do so, it faces the same fine as you. Ask for it if you have never received it.
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