Installing a pool fence for a rental? Nuts? (rentals, attorneys)

[divaskychick]

There are only a few rentals with everything we're looking for, in the areas we like, in our price range (no more than $2K) Possibly only four. Would it be nuts to take on fencing a pool ourselves for a home we'd likely live in for only a year?

[Skywayy2001]

as opposed to having your children die in the pool? Id say that's not nuts...install it. You could always ask the landlord as it increased their property value.

[rgscpat]

I'm very surprised that the landlord would accept being exposed to the liability of not having a fence around the pool, or at least a walled backyard with locked gates. or, to twist a saying, "Just because you're an insufficiently paranoid landlord with the huge liability exposure of an unfenced pool doesn't mean the personal injury attorneys are not out to get you."

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by divaskychick

There are only a few rentals with everything we're looking for, in the areas we like, in our price range (no more than $2K) Possibly only four. Would it be nuts to take on fencing a pool ourselves for a home we'd likely live in for only a year?

If you have kids under 6 then it is not nuts, it is the law. You are in violation of AZ laws if you DON'T have a barrier. Personally, I would not do out of pocket for only a year's occupancy. Maybe you can get landlord to cut rent as a partial payback instead of having to come up with the money up front to fence it for you. On the other hand, there are many places with fences available, so maybe you just need to compromise a bit on where you live.

[divaskychick]

Sorry, I should have been more clear. I was never considering living with my child in a place with an unfenced pool. I was asking if I should consider fencing a pool at my expense OR AVOIDING THAT PROPERTY ALTOGETHER.

It hadn't occurred to me that a landlord might share the expense. Thanks.

[observer53]

There are "temporary" fences out there as well. Nonclimbable, perfectly compliant with the law. They do make holes in the pool deck for the posts. I know there was a discussion about them some time back, try a search. Landlord should still go halvesies on that with you.

[divaskychick]

Thanks. Apparently I have to spread the respect around before I can rate your post again!

[S. Chris Webb]

There are other barriers that are legal in most, if not all cities. (think self-closing locks on doors & windows.) I believe most landlords would be happy to supply those as it's not nearly the cost of a permanent fence (which in our experience becomes a disappearing fence with some tenants), and it shows they are trying to reduce the liability. We have one house that has had a fence disappear and re-appear three times with different tenants.

[stevek64]

Another option I've seen(never used) is a pool alarm for the door(s), window(s), or an alarm that actually mounts on the pool that can sense movement in the water when something/someone enters the pool and sounds an alarm outside/inside the home. Checking out some valley pool stores/websites should probably give you all the details.

[Juram]

Call me ignorant but I thought having a barrier around a pool was basically mandatory and required to permit a swimming pool, at least by County standards, were some of these just grandfathered in or what?