I’m getting ready to open an Airbnb with an indoor in-ground pool I was wondering if it would be necessary to provide life jackets for small children I feel like it would be a necessary safety measure. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
First, do you have STR insurance? If so, what does it say about the pool?
(And if you don’t have STR insurance, you should!)
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I’m not 100% sure I will need to check with the homeowner he lives out of state and it’s my job to get it ready to rent. I will definitely check with him thank you.
So you’re a co-host?
We have an indoor pool that we can completely control access to (we put away the crank that unlocks the pool cover), and we’re resident hosts. We don’t allow children guests at all. We allow access to adults only when we’re here and one of us is in the room while someone is in the pool.
Since you’re not the owner, I don’t know what your liability would be. But it’s worth finding out, even if it means contacting an attorney.
Maybe another host on the forum will have some wisdom here.
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If you are responsible for getting the place ready on behalf of the owner, I am presuming that includes obtaining specialist home insurance for STRs. Why not check the policy regarding anything that needs to be put in place in terms of health and safety at the pool. @Britty
I have messaged the home owner suggesting we get them either way I’m confident he will agree. His son will be running the online part of rentals and I’m sure he has done the research as far as insurance needed with the pool. Thank you all for your input.
I wouldn’t be so sure. I am personally amazed at the number of hosts that don’t even think about dedicated short-term-rental insurance.
BTW, instead of vests/jackets/water-wings, another option is simply not allowing children or infants. If the pool doesn’t have a separate child-proof fence, then this is the only option you should choose.
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I will make sure before it is listed that there is proper insurance. This is a family friendly rental I have installed top locks on all the doors to the pool room and have posted signs stating no unsupervised children… I had my own family there for a Christmas party it went well there just were not enough life jackets for the little ones. I prey that the renters will be diligent especially if they have children as I was. That said I’m also getting a rope to mark shallow/deep end of the pool. Thank you for your input but I would hope the entire family can enjoy the pool.
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In my view, not worth the risk…a careless child that can reach and unlock the doors to your pool room, let alone a distracted parent. I cant see any insurer covering this risk…
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Be really careful Britty. Of course, laws depends on where you’re located but it’s more than likely that the local regulations will mean that you are responsible for keeping the life vests in good working order. Here, for example, all safety equipment is subjected to local laws and our fire extinguishers (which we need by law) have to be inspected and properly certified once a year. I’ve no idea, but life vests might be the same.
Another tip (I hope you don’t mind) is that a lawyer friend once made a co-hosting agreement document for me (and I’ve lost it now, sorry) when a local person asked me to co-host for him. The main part of it was to release me from any liability. Again, it depends on your local laws, but I’d look into it. If you’re the one getting the place ready and generally being responsible, you might be liable if there are any problems.
I appreciate your input and will make sure all equipment is inspected regularly. My family has worked for the homeowner for 25+ years but I’ll be sure to cover myself…thank you for the input.
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In many countries (US states as well maybe?) the level of liability could be open to local interpretation, irrespective of documentation that pushes the liability up the hill.
I’ve always been wary of agreements like this having seen (professionally) courts turn them in to toilet paper simply because the judge had soggy rice crispies that morning.
JF
Very true. But I’m in the States and you know what they are like… sorry, we. 
Well, as I’ve said before, your quaint legal system has never been on my radar before. I had my own quaint legal system to deal with for twenty years, but reading this forum has given me a little insight into yours (theirs? 
).
Glad I’m still a “not”
JF
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Aside from the insurance issue, do kids wear life jackets in pools now? Is this some new thing? It’s been a while since I’ve been to a pool, but all I remember seeing on kids were those inflatable armbands.
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I don’t allow children for exactly these reasons. My yard to the canal doesn’t have a fence and my pool isn’t child proofed.
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Very good point. I’ve never seen that either. Weird flotation devices yes, but not life vests.
Ours is the same and that, along with upper floor balconies, hard tiled floors and glass cabinet doors are all reasons why the thought of having a child on the premises would give me nightmares.
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Floaties are fine for kids under direct supervision, but if I were outfitting a house like Britty is, I’d get the full jackets.
Our family has a lake house and the littlest kids wear ones with a flap behind their heads and a wedgie-inducing strap between the legs. It’s supposed to prevent them from sliding out of the jacket and roll them over from a dead man’s float to an upright position. Arm floaties don’t do that.
@Britty This is a question I’d ask a lawyer and your insurer. Providing safety equipment involves some liability. Drowning is the single largest cause of death for ages 1-4 (at least in the US).
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I’ve seen it. I hate the “water wings” that small children wear in pools. They give a false sense of security to parents and children and have been the cause of many accidents in pools.
Exactly!
As a mother and a grandmother, I believe firmly in teaching children to swim, or at least to feel happy and confident in the water, a long time before they can walk. I’ve seen older children sitting by the pool playing on their iPads because they can’t swim or are scared of the water.
I know that dreadful accidents can happen to strong swimmers but it sometimes seems that there are parents who have got their priorities all wrong.
Sorry about that - as you can tell, it’s something I feel strongly about.
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