Whether you already have a swimming pool on your property or are considering building one
soon, we agree that swimming pools are a great addition to any house. Besides improving the
aesthetics, they promise joyous times and fun-filled activities.
But if you already havehomeowner’s insurance or intend to purchase an insurance plan, are you aware of how a pool
affects home insurance?
When you hear about swimming pools, you will probably think of fun, relaxation, summer
parties by the pool. But if you were to see things from the perspective of an insurance
company, then you will be shocked to know that swimming pools are viewed as an ‘attractive
nuisance’ by the insurers.
This is due to the fact that by their very nature, swimming pools have
certain risks associated with them.
Therefore, it is important to know the effects of pools on homeowner’s insurance so that you
stay ahead of any pool-related disaster, make informed decisions and select the home
insurance package that works best for you.
Risks Associated with a Pool and Their Impact on Home Insurance
The reason why insurers call a swimming pool an attractive nuisance is because despite the
beauty and pleasure that they offer, they are a physical hazard nonetheless.
The most obvious risk related to pools is that someone can drown in it. The chances are high
especially if you have children or pets. Insurance companies do not agree to cover swimming
pools in their plan unless there are certain basic safety measures in place.
This normally
includes a fence of a specified height, lifesaving equipment and sometimes even more
precautions such as a monitoring system.
Many homeowner insurance plans cover medical bills as well as lawsuits that might result from
any accident at your home. Having a pool on the property means higher chances of pool-
related accidents such as drowning, near-drowning, injuries from slipping and so on.
Consider a case where any pool-related accident occurs, and you are charged for it. If you failed to take
proper precautions or have a pool that does not comply with the safety standard the obviously
your insurer will not provide coverage under such circumstances.
But if you weren’t at fault, then the liability portion of your home insurance will help you cover the costs associated with
the legal proceedings.
Moreover, if you live in an area where hurricanes occur frequently or in an area where heavy
rainfall and storms are a norm then needless to say, the risks associated with a pool increase.
The structure itself can suffer damage during the extreme weather or debris and other
wreckage carried by the wildly strong winds can gatherin the pool which will be hard to
remove. All these factors mean increased costs for you and your insurance company.
Home plus pool equals lasting memories. But to make sure that these are the ‘good’ memories,
consult your insurance provider to discuss the effects of pools on your homeowner insurance.
