Swimming pool use and insurance

[baldy1926]

Hi
Hopefully this is in the correct forum
My partner is a swimming instructor.
She has been offered the use of a private pool for lessons.
She normally works for a council and established swimming schools so hasn't worked independently before
My partner already has public liability insurance.
The owner of the pool said she is happy to say its just friends using the pool.
We believe we should have a more formal agreement and are looking at a risk assessment for the pool use and a formal record of pool readings.
There will be no more than 2 children in a lesson and they will not be left unattended at any point.
She is only looking at 3 hours twice a week so it's not full time use.
What else do we need to put in place
Thanks

[elise2000]

Pli and risk assessments a must.

I would also be working through a Ltd company to limit liability

[Scarletpimpofnel]

The risk assessment is key imo (done before you enter into any agreement to use the pool) as mitigation measures will cost money (safety/rescue equipment etc) as well as safe guarding (safe/secure changing rooms and the like), lockers for valuables and so on. Possibly not needed but thinl of all the things that could go wrong and what you need to do to mitigate them. You might find it's cheaper/easier to just keep using the Council's pool... but I don't want to stifle entrepreneurship. Good luck.

PS - You've rightly identified pool readings. The legal agreement with the owner is also critical. What starts off as a friendly offer can become friction when the owner has their own family around wanting to use the pool when a scheduled lesson is due and so on.

[baldy1926]

At least the pool is entirely self contained and not attached to the owners house.
It has its own changing area with shower and toilet.
There will only be 2 children at a time with their parents/guardians.

[LooneyTunes]

baldy1926 said:

Hi
The owner of the pool said she is happy to say its just friends using the pool.
We believe we should have a more formal agreement and are looking at a risk assessment for the pool use and a formal record of pool readings.

Some friends of mine have a similar setup with pool away from the house that they let other people use, including for tuition.

We have done similar with our equestrian facilities in the past.

The owners in this case are being a bit naive thinking that, if something goes wrong, they’ll get away with claiming it was just friends using it. You need something that properly details the arrangement and has appropriate insurance in place (in fact I’m surprised they’re not insisting on it) BUT expect that if you push them on this either It’ll be too much hassle to arrange or, even if they are prepared to do it, won’t want to wear the cost of the insurance.

[ADJimbo]

LooneyTunes said:

baldy1926 said:

Hi
The owner of the pool said she is happy to say its just friends using the pool.
We believe we should have a more formal agreement and are looking at a risk assessment for the pool use and a formal record of pool readings.

Some friends of mine have a similar setup with pool away from the house that they let other people use, including for tuition.

We have done similar with our equestrian facilities in the past.

The owners in this case are being a bit naive thinking that, if something goes wrong, they’ll get away with claiming it was just friends using it. You need something that properly details the arrangement and has appropriate insurance in place (in fact I’m surprised they’re not insisting on it) BUT expect that if you push them on this either It’ll be too much hassle to arrange or, even if they are prepared to do it, won’t want to wear the cost of the insurance.

Exactly this - couldn’t have put it better myself - Insurance will be key. The owners of the pool might be nice-as-pie now and using the “we’ll just say it was friends using it” to generate some cash to offset the costs of running the pool - until they and your partner are staring down the barrel of personal injury claim because somethings gone wrong - then the current ‘agreement’ between the owners and your partner will go south and at a rate of knots - and the owners of the pool will then run for cover, thus sailing your partner down the river.

As said, insurance will be key to this opportunity.

[baldy1926]

My partner already has her own public liability from the swimming associations will have to explore the actual pool insurance.

[OldGermanHeaps]

Ad hoc informal agreements are only ok until the st hits the fan. If something bad happens even if it isnt your fault someone will be looking for a payout and everyone will be covering their own arse. All it takes is for someone to slip at the poolside and fall the wrong way and it could be massive liability. It definitely pays to spend a bit of money at the outset for a professional to look over all the paperwork.

[48k]

The owner of the pool will be happy to say its only friends and family using the pool until someone drowns on their property.... or their mortgage company or house insurance discover they have members of the public attending a business being operated from the premises... or the neighbours complain about the parking and the council get whiff of a commercial business operating from the premises... etc. etc.

Best to go in to these things with your eyes open, make sure all the I's are dotted and T's are crossed.

[Insurancejon]

Home owner just needs to chat it’s his home insurance company/broker. It’s not an insurmountable problem