Do I need a pool safety certificate to sell or rent my house?

Pool barrier obligations are continuous, but the point at which somebody actually checks is usually a sale or a new tenancy. That is when an unresolved barrier problem becomes urgent and expensive.

How the states differ

• Queensland operates a pool safety register and requires a pool safety certificate for sale or lease, issued by a licensed pool safety inspector and valid for a set period.
• New South Wales requires pools to be registered and, for sale or lease, a certificate of compliance or a relevant occupation certificate to be provided.
• Victoria requires pools and spas to be registered with the council and barriers to be inspected and certified on a cycle.
• Other states and territories have their own requirements and inspection regimes, generally administered through local government.

What inspections usually fail on

• Gates that do not self-close and self-latch from any position, which is the single most common failure.
• Climbable objects within the prescribed distance of the barrier, including pot plants, furniture, air conditioning units and pool pumps.
• Gaps under the fence or between vertical members that exceed the limit.
• Boundary fences used as part of the barrier that are too low or have horizontal rails on the pool side.
• Doors from the house directly to the pool area where that is no longer permitted.