The House of Representatives Interior Committee stated the other day that the legislation in force in Cyprus since 1992 regulating swimming pools is outdated.
In this regard, the department has developed amendments that are expected to make significant changes and improve the current regulations.
It is worth noting that the impetus for the introduction of innovations were numerous complaints from property owners in residential complexes. The fact is that the current Law is so strict that many pools, including those in small complexes, have remained closed in recent years because not all residents agree to pay for lifeguard services as required by the rules.
I have an apartment in Emba where the pool is currently closed of fear of prosecution for non-compliance with pool laws. One of the conditions is that we need to have toilets, changing rooms and a lifeguard on duty. If nothing changes, this will be the third summer without using the pool," said Paphos landlady Pam Simcox.
She noted that in order not to risk breaking the Law, some of her family members have opted to book a hotel in the same area to be able to use the pool.
Peay Councilmember Linda LeBlanc has been advocating for a legislative distinction between private community pools and public pools since 2007. Over the years, she has repeatedly emphasized that Cyprus could easily implement EU standards that classify complexes with communal pools for property owners, their guests, and families as "Type 3" pools, subject to different standards than public pools. Leblanc pointed out the detrimental impact of the current Laws on Cypriot tourism and the real estate market, calling for a speedy solution to the problem.
Currently, private vacation villas offered for rent on platforms such as Airbnb are also under scrutiny by the authorities. Owners of the complexes are being informed that their pools require licenses to operate as they are considered public pools. This affects the earnings of rental property owners and results in impressive financial losses.
Note that the revised Bill, which is currently before Legal Services, provides for the division of swimming pools into three separate groups.
The first category includes swimming pools located in water parks, the second includes swimming pools attached to hotels and tourist facilities, and the third covers all other swimming pools except those serving more than five residential units. According to the new rules, depending on the category to which the swimming pool belongs, the developer will have to obtain a building permit for it. The authorities will conduct regular inspections: health and safety inspections for pools in the first two categories and random inspections for pools in the third group. In addition, pools in the first two categories will require lifeguards to operate, while pools in the third category no longer do.
The new Pool Legislation is now in the final stages of being reviewed by Legal Services. Then it will have to be approved by the Cabinet of Ministers," said a source in the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
This information was also confirmed by the Cyprus Legal Service. The department emphasized that the problem with the rules of the use of swimming pools has been bothering the residents of Cyprus for years. Cyprus classifies all swimming pools located in private complexes as public, subjecting them to strict rules developed for public facilities. In particular, this includes the mandatory obtaining of a license for the construction of a pool, the permanent presence of a qualified lifeguard on duty, and professional supervision of pool maintenance.
