France is THE European country in terms of the number of swimming pools. Having a private pool is the dream of four out of ten French people. A swimming pool is the synonym of spending a beautiful summer at home, a lifestyle privilege and, finding themselves forced to stay at home by recent events, many households take the plunge. The reasons vary: for some the swimming pool is the solution to escape during the repeat lock-down periods, for others it is a friendly outdoor area to relax or to watch your children play.
A private pool is also a significant added value to your real estate assets. The added value of a house or villa equipped with a pool is constantly growing and motivates more and more investors, especially in the sunny regions of the South of France, such as the French Riviera or Provence. Swimming pools in these regions have become indispensable as their presence impacts the selling price of the houses. 40% of French people dream of owning a house with a swimming pool and it is therefore logical that this demand increases real estate prices. According to studies, the construction of a pool increases the value of a property on average by 16%. There are several criteria for estimating the value of a house with a swimming pool on its property:
- The quality of the pool and facilities;
- The size of the pool;
- The type of coating (PVC liner, mosaic, etc.);
- The security system;
- Development of equipment in the field (landscaping of surrounding greenery);
- Accessories such as floating chairs, deck chairs, lighting, etc.;
- Design and harmony with the home.
Potential buyers are often conquered by the overall atmosphere and the ability to project themselves during a visit. This is called the « coup de cœur ». A swimming pool in the garden crystallizes all aspirations. Indeed, it remains a luxury even if the trend is towards its democratization. Thus, it plays an important role in ensuring that the potential buyer projects themselves into their future home and reinforces this complex feeling of satisfaction, prior to any sale.
The decision to build a swimming pool is not to be taken lightly because if its real estate gain is certain, the annual cost of maintaining a swimming pool and other parameters are to be taken into account before undertaking the work. Various regulations apply to private swimming pools: administrative procedures, rules of establishment, mandatory guarantees and the most important safety instructions.
Here is some information that can help you in your future projects.
Security:
Since 1 January 2004, all private swimming pools that are buried or semi-buried must be equipped with an anti-drowning device.
To make the pool inaccessible to a child under the age of 5, the pool must be protected with either a pool barrier, pool cover, pool shed or pool alarm.
NB: an owner does not have to secure his pool to sell his house. On the other hand, the buyer will not have to wait too long to get up to standards after the transaction.
- Basin Access Barrier NF P. 90-306
- barrier shall be greater than 1m10;
- it must be able to be effectively locked so that no child can open it alone;
- it must be installed around the pool while providing optimal freedom of movement during swimming.
- Alarm system: Regardless of the mode of operation, the regulation provides that the swimming pool alarm must detect the fall of a child under 6 years and reactivates automatically after swimming.
- Safety cover and dock. The standard NF P 90-308 is a guarantee of safety, ensuring a complete coverage of the pool to avoid any involuntary or unattended immersion of children under 5 years.
The cover must offer a perfect resistance up to 100 kg. - Pool shelter.
- to secure the pool perfectly, the shelter must be completely airtight to a child;
- The shelter must also be weatherproof and provide optimal swimming comfort in all weather conditions.
Security is one of the elements sought by families during seasonal rental.
The equipment:
That’s another investment to consider. The essentials are the pump, the skimmers (surface skimmers), the filters, the disinfectants, the discharge outlet, the apron/coping, the safety equipment.
The maintenance:
A pool is maintained regularly, whether you use it or not. You can maintain it yourself but it is always better to call upon a professional once a year for a control of the installation.
The first source of incompressible expenditure is water. It is not a question of emptying and filling the basin every year. However, you will need to add water regularly to compensate for evaporation.
The maintenance costs for a pool are varied and here are some things to remember:
- Water quality control: pH control, chlorine tablets, antifungal, anti-algus, etc.
- Cleaning filters and pump,
- Cleaning the pond and water line,
- Heating of water,
- The protection system.
NB: the immediate proximity to the vegetation increases the frequency of cleaning and fouls the filters faster.
Taxes:
Since 2012, a development tax must be paid to the municipality or department in the year of installation. Another important point to be aware of when installing a pool or acquiring a property with a pool is property taxes. The property tax applies to all buildings fixed to the ground in such a way that it is impossible to move them without demolishing them. Installing a swimming pool increases the rental value of your home, so your taxes. The French tax administration may use Google Earth or similar tools to identify undeclared pools.
Insurance:
As soon as your pool is built, remember to notify your insurer. Depending on your liability contract, options may be added to cover pool-related claims.
Property and Casualty Insurance: When building a concrete swimming pool, it is mandatory to purchase property and casualty insurance for any construction carried out by a professional. This pool insurance must be purchased before construction begins.
Professional liability insurance: A professional liability insurance contract must be taken out by the “pisciniste”, covering any damage caused to the pool or to others by one of the employees of the company in charge of the installation.
Private pool and guarantee of perfect completion: The guarantee of perfect completion applies to pools built by a professional. During the year following its implementation, the builder has the obligation to cover any problems reported by the pool owner.
Private swimming pool and 10-year guarantee: Any swimming pool installed by a professional is protected by the 10-year swimming pool guarantee, which provides a 10-year guarantee upon receipt of the work.
Private pool and biennial warranty: This warranty applies to all pools, even those not installed by a professional. A warranty that covers only the different parts of the pool, over 2 years, 10 years or even 12 years depending on the part concerned.
If you would like more information about the existing regulations for the construction of a swimming pool as well as the benefits for your property, do not hesitate to contact us.
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