Community pools, whether in apartments or single-family housing, provide added value to any residential area. Now that summer is coming, pools are ideal for providing relief from the high temperatures. However, the standards for use of pools often generate doubts among the owners. If this is your case, don’t worry, you will find answers to the most common questions in this post.
Is it mandatory to have a lifeguard in a community pool?
The obligation to have a lifeguard in a community pool depends on regional regulations. For example, pools of more than 200 m2 must have a lifeguard in the Valencian Community, as well as in Andalusia. In Murcia, pools of more than 250 m2 must have a lifeguard.
The number of lifeguards required will depend on the number of swimming pools that the residential complex has as well as the distance between them.
Are internal regulations necessary?
Community pools are governed by the regional or municipal regulatory framework, but there may be internal regulations in addition. Although not mandatory, they are recommended to ensure the proper use of the facilities.
The aforementioned regulations must be approved by the owners and regulate aspects such as:
Opening and closing hours.
Operating rules.
Capacity, taking into account the number of guests.
Dress code.
All regulations must be located in a visible place at the entrance of the pool.
Can access be restricted?
As with all common areas, community pools can also generate conflict. A recurring question that often comes up concerns prohibiting entry to the community pool.
In this case, two scenarios are common:
On one hand, can holiday rental guests use the community pool? The answer is yes, but the owner of the rental property, in this case, would lose their right of use in favour of their guests.
On the other hand, the case of neighbours who have debts in arrears may provoke more debate. The General Directorate of Registries and Notaries considers that with the prior agreement of the community it would be feasible to prohibit their entry, although neither the Horizontal Property Law nor its rulings support the prohibition.
How can we manage community pools and the risk of COVID-19?
After a year of the pandemic, the communal use of swimming pools remains an unknown. The truth is, like many other questions on this subject, the use of the facilities will depend on the decision of the owners.
The Neighbourhood Committee will have to approve the opening of the pool and decide on what health and safety measures must be followed to guarantee protection against COVID-19. Limiting the capacity, respecting the safe distance, using masks, or taking the temperature of the guests, are some aspects to take into account when implementing these rules.
