Making backyards safer for children
April 30, 2016
The New South Wales Minister for Local Government has announced regulations applying to the sale of properties with come into effect from 29 April 2016.
The new amendments mean homeowners wishing to sell their property with a swimming pool have 90 days to rectify any non-compliant swimming pool barriers.
From 29 April 2016, vendors will need to attach to the Contract of Sale a Certificate of Compliance or a Certificate of Non-Compliance outlining what needs to be fixed.
This will allow fully-informed homebuyers the ability to negotiate on the eventual purchase price taking the non-compliance issues needing repair into account. Councils can issue fines to owners if swimming pool barriers are found to be non-compliant.
Coming into effect on the same day, landlords will need to ensure that every new tenancy application to the Residential Tenancy Tribunal must have a compliance certificate if the property has a swimming pool.
Minister Toole said that with 95 per cent of swimming pool barriers failing a first inspection, many homebuyers may be unwittingly purchasing homes with non-compliant fencing.
“While this (legislation) is no substitute for vigilant adult supervision of children, this change will ensure that new pool owners understand what they have to do to make their pools safe,” he said.
“This will ensure that homebuyers are fully informed before entering into a contract of what they need to do to make their pool barriers safe.”
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