Why You Should Never Buy a Pool Home without This Paperwork

Posted on: 7 September 2018

Are you on the lookout for a new home, as your family has grown out of your old one? You may be looking for somewhere that not only has plenty of extra space but allows you to unwind more effectively at the weekend. In Australia, this means a swimming pool and the good news is that there are a lot of properties on the market that are suitably equipped. Yet if you're not used to owning a pool, you may not be aware that it comes with certain obligations and you need to make sure that your paperwork is in order during any transaction. What are some of the pitfalls?

Compliant Pools

Whenever somebody sells a property that is equipped with either a spa or swimming pool (no matter its particular state), then it needs to be certified. Government regulators are charged with the responsibility of inspecting each one of these structures whenever it is attached to a private property, to make sure that it is safe and fit for the purpose.

The Need for Action

Their overriding concern is, of course, to slow down the unfortunate rate of deaths that occur each year in a domestic environment, when children or other vulnerable people come into contact with water. As the regulators are particularly focused on this problem, they will issue a considerable fine if a property owner does not comply.

Crucial Certificates

Therefore, whenever you look at a house that has a spa or swimming pool, you need to ensure that you get a certificate of compliance from the vendor, which should be attached to your contract of sale. However, if the structure was found to be non-compliant recently, then you may get a certificate that says this but will then need to take your own actions subsequent to the sale, to rectify the issue.

In fact, you have to take relatively swift action; within three months, you must make sure that you bring the pool up to the requisite standard. You will then need to schedule an inspection, to get your own certificate of compliance.

Who You Can Turn to

Each state or territory nominates a certain number of private certifiers, who can make sure that each structure is up to code and can generate the paperwork. While you should bear this in mind if you do happen to pick up a pool that is non-compliant, in most cases, you should focus on getting the right paperwork instead. This is another reason why you should get a good conveyancing agent on your side so that every crucial element associated with the sale is addressed.

For more information, contact a company like Johnson & Sendall.

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