New Regulations Affecting the Way You Sell a Home with a Pool
By now many realtors in the Gold Coast area have heard of the recent legislation that has been passed
down requiring all homes that are sold or purchased to have a pool safety certificate. While it might be
just one more piece of paperwork for a homeowner, as a realtor it is important to understand the
significance of this document, the reasons why it is in place and the penalties for not abiding by this law.
As a method of putting an end to the unfortunate drowning of many children when they are
unsupervised around pools, the Pool Safety Council has determined that all Gold Coast residents with a
pool should obtain a safety certificate as a means to protecting the children of the area. As realtors and
property managers, it has become mandatory that all properties sold or rented have or obtain this
certification, preferably prior to purchasing the property. Ideally, the goal is for every home,
condominium or business with a pool in the area to have a safety certificate. Not as a means to penalise
individuals, rather as a means to protect the children of the area.
As a realtor it is important to understand that non-shared and shared pools carry various regulations on
certifications. Should a seller have a safety certificate already in place when they sell their home, the
new tenant or owner should be given a copy of this documentation. If a seller does not have a
certification then a Form 36 should be issued, allowing the purchaser to understand that the property is
not certifiably meeting all standards, and how they can obtain certification. As a property manager and
realtor, it is your role to inform the buyers and sellers of the importance of assessing this pool
legislation, so that new owners are fully aware of what they are purchasing.
For homeowners, new or old, who are found without certification there are certain fines in place as a
form of penalty and a deterrent for others. Fines can exceed $16,000 for a single household that is
found to be in non-compliance, and $82,000 for businesses who are not. The fines, in most cases
probably even exceed the amount that the pool may cost, so it is clearly a stiff law which will be
enforced harshly.
As a realtor or property manager you should pay close attention to the Brisbane conveyancing as you
sell and market homes. Conveyancing Gold Coast properties with pools just became a little more
serious, and for good reason!
http://www.ownitconveyancing.com