Keeping your pool compliant
Here at Barry Plant Thomastown we are extremely conscious of ensuring that people stay safe when they are using, or are close to, backyard swimming pools and spas.
With summer now officially here, I wanted to make sure that all of our readers are aware that if you have a backyard pool or spa, either in your own home or in a rental property that you own, the rules governing these assets have changed.
As you may have seen in the media recently, as of the first of December 2019 responsibility for registering all backyard pools and spas has become the responsibility of your municipal Council. The new regulations will require property owners to submit a current certificate of compliance for their pool or spa safety barrier.
Our understanding is that all pool owners will be required to contact their council by April 14th, 2020 to register their pool. This will involve the payment of a proposed $37 registration fee.
If your pool was built before 1994, you will then be required to lodge an inspection compliance certificate by October 30th, 2020. For pools built between 1994 and 2010, owners have until April 30th, 2021 to lodge the certificate, whilst pools built after 2010 will need to be certified by October 29th, 2021.
Early indications are that councils will charge pool and spa owners a $20 fee to lodge their inspection compliance certificates, and that owners will be required to renew this process every three years.
For owners of rental properties with a pool or spa, our Property Management team will be compiling a full list of rental properties that we manage that may be impacted by these new rules. Our aim will be to ensure that the appropriate compliance certificates have been issued in the last 3 years. If a current compliance certificate cannot be located, property owners will need to obtain one in time to lodge with the council.
If you do have a pool or spa in your rental property, we expect that you will receive more information from your applicable council in the coming weeks. However, if you have any questions in the meantime, don’t hesitate to give our team at Barry Plant Thomastown on 9466 3233 if you would like to discuss this further.
Best wishes,
Con Constantinou
Barry Plant Thomastown