A swimming pool is a great feature to have in a rental property. It makes the home more attractive because there are more ways for tenants to enjoy their property. Having a pool on the premises also allows landlords to charge more in rent.
But along with the benefits of having a pool in a rental, there are also responsibilities. Pools need to be maintained in a state of hygiene and safety or they can make the property less desirable or even dangerous.
Among other things, the water chemistry must be balanced, debris needs to be removed from the pool regularly, and pool water must be kept at the proper level.
Due to the sheer number of tasks needed to keep a pool in good condition, it is easy for property owners to fall behind in their pool maintenance. A poorly maintained pool loses its appeal and can become a threat to the people in the home.“If a pool is not well looked after, it can pose liability issues for the landlord”, warns Ronnie Marshall of OmniKey Realty in Plano.
What are the things that can go wrong in a rental property if the swimming pool is not adequately maintained?
· Possibility of drowning accidents
· The pool constitutes a health hazard
· It can make the home less attractive
· Expensive repairs and recovery maintenance.
The following is a highly simplified breakdown of the major tasks involved in maintaining a rental property's swimming pool.
The pool water must be checked frequently, and chemicals added as required. Necessary tests include Free Chlorine Testing, Total Chlorine, pH, Alkalinity, Calcium Hardness, and Total Dissolved Solids.
Depending on these tests' results, the essential pool chemicals should be added to the water in the right quantities. Doing this will keep the water healthy and prevent the growth of algae and other organisms. It will also protect pool equipment from scaling and corrosion.
The water level in the pool must be checked daily. Swimming pool water can fall below the required level due to evaporation, splashing, people getting out of the water, and leaks.
Rainfall can also cause it to overflow. Maintaining the right water level is critical for keeping the pool free of debris and allowing the water to get too low will starve your expensive pumps resulting in damage to its components.
It is important to clean the pool regularly of debris. This is particularly important if there are plants in the vicinity of the pool or strong wind regularly blows insects into the water. Clearing the debris from the pool keeps things looking great. The more often you remove organic compounds from the pool the less they can contribute to phosphates in the water and greater your chlorine demand will be. Make sure to clean both the pool surface and the bottom of the pool manually or with an automatic pool cleaner.
In addition to skimming the pool’s surfaces, the swimming pool also needs to be vacuumed to eliminate debris that is hard to reach. The easiest way for this is to have an automated pool cleaner that has been programmed to run on a regular schedule. It is also possible to do this with a manually operated vacuum.
The equipment is the beating heart of your pool. Take care of the equipment and it will take care of you. Regularly inspect all equipment and plumbing looking for leaks or drips. Inspect your filter often to make sure the pressure is safe,clean the filter at least every six months, and listen for loud pumps or motors. Perform the regular maintenance as specified by the equipment manufacturer.
The area around swimming pools often gets very slippery and can become a safety hazard.Landlords can prevent people from falling and getting hurt by installing mats, rubber, or other materials that increase traction around the area.
There should be grip strips to aid people in getting in and out of the water. A pool fence and gate are absolutely essential for keeping the whole area secluded. A pool alarm should be installed to alert adults when a pet or child enters the water unattended to completely secure the pool.
Make sure your drain covers are VGBA Anti-entrapment rated. Skimmer covers should be installed to prevent tripping and the exterior gates should be self-closing and self-latching.
Finally,even if a pool is maintained correctly, the landlord can't watch it at all times. Property owners should involve their tenants in the maintenance of the swimming pool by doing the following:
· Make it the tenant's responsibility to inform the landlord of repair issues
· Make it the tenant's responsibility to keep the gate locked and the pool deck free of obstructions
· Make it the tenant's responsibility to comply with manufacturer's and landlord's instructions when using the pool
· Let it be known that tenants use the pool at their own risk
All these can be achieved by adding a pool addendum to the lease agreement that tenants sign.
See how Pool Refs help landlords keep their pools maintained for less by getting an instant online quote.