Make a big splash!

What could be dreamier than your own swimming pool at your French property? Karen Tait looks at the costs and practicalities of owning one

- Karen Tait

Picture this: you’re at your French property, the summer sunshine is beating down, and you’re basking by your very own pool, contemplating whether to jump in and cool off now or wait just a bit longer. Does the dream get any better!

It doesn’t have to be a dream though. Properties with swimming pools are commonplace in France, and you don’t need to pay the earth. Of course, if you’re after an infinity pool overlooking the Med, you better have deep pockets but for a modest pool in the countryside, it’s an attainable dream.

PROS AND CONS

So, your first choice is actually whether to have a pool or not? It may be your dream but have you thought it through. After all, a pool is like a pet. You have to look after it. It has to be fed with chemicals and kept healthy, kept clean from leaves and other debris, and kept safe. Of course, you don’t have to do all the hard work yourself, if you’re prepared to pay someone else to maintain your pool.

“When comparing quotes check whether chemicals and cleaning the pool terrace are included and if TVA (at 20%) is charged,” says Mary Hall, a property manager in Lot, south-west France. “A local one-man-band is often cheaper than a big pool company. Get recommendations from other pool owners. If the property is let, the pool must be sparkling clean when guests arrive, and be kept that way.”

Consider too how much you will realistically use a pool. If you’ll be in and out of it all summer long (and maybe winter too if it’s heated or covered), then it’s a worthwhile cost. But if it’s only used on high days and holidays, you might want to think again, especially if you are already near the beach, a swimming lake or river.