If you’re selling or leasing a Townsville property with a pool or spa, pool safety is one of those things that’s easy to leave too late. Here’s the plain-English version of what you need and when.
The short answer
In Queensland, you need a valid pool safety certificate when you sell or lease a property with a regulated pool or spa. Many owners also get one simply for peace of mind that their barrier is safe for kids — you don’t have to be selling to want that.
For a non-shared pool (a typical backyard pool), the certificate is generally valid for two years. For shared pools (like a unit complex) it’s one year.
Book it early when you’re selling
This is the big one: don’t leave the inspection until the week before settlement. If the barrier needs work to pass — and a surprising number do — you want time to fix it without holding up the sale. Booking the inspection as soon as you decide to sell takes the stress out of it.
If a certificate can’t be issued before settlement, there are forms (like a Form 36 Notice of no pool safety certificate) that let the sale proceed with the obligation passing to the buyer — but it’s far cleaner to simply have a valid certificate in hand.
What gets checked
A pool safety inspection measures your barrier against the Queensland Pool Safety Standard (AS1926). The main things:
- Fence height of at least 1.2m, with no gaps over 100mm
- A non-climbable zone — no footholds, pot plants, pumps or furniture that let a child climb in
- A gate that’s self-closing, self-latching and opens away from the pool
- No direct access from the house into the pool area
- A current CPR sign
What it costs, and what happens if it fails
Our inspection is $250, which includes the QBCC certificate fee and a re-inspection if something needs fixing. Because we’re licensed pool safety inspectors and fencing specialists, we don’t just hand you a fail list — we can repair the gate, close the gaps, or install compliant glass or aluminium pool fencing and certify it, often in the one visit.
If you’d just like advice before you commit — say you’re planning a new pool or want a health check on an old fence — our $99 consultation gives you onsite guidance on exactly what’s needed.
Getting it sorted
Selling, leasing, or just want to know your pool’s safe? Book a pool safety inspection or get in touch — call 0423 750 885 and we’ll find a time that suits.
This article is general information, not legal advice — pool safety laws can change, so check the current Queensland requirements or ask us when you book.