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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that a spendy Italian villa sleeping 16 should have fenced-off pool?

23 replies

MyEye · 23/07/2007 13:08

I just assumed that since it cost a bomb to hire, the pool would be secure.

But -- apparently not. It's open to the garden: no gate, nothing.

As there are 6 children under 6 in our party, we may not have a very relaxing holiday.

WWYD? Are there any EU requirements about safety features of rental properties?

OP posts:
tissy · 23/07/2007 13:10

Dont know about EU regulations, but before going I owuld ascertain that the door to the garden is lockable. Once there, a grownup holds the key, and kids only go out supervised.

Brangelina · 23/07/2007 13:14

Lol, the Italians don't have the same ideas about child (or anyone else's) safety, a lot of the stuff that goes on in the UK is perceived as paranoia here. In Italy itself there is no legal requirement to have a pool fenced off, but then I would have thought a company that frequently lets to UK visitors might have installed some measures to suit its main clientele. I suppose it depends on how much demand they've had for this kind of thing until now. What does the letting company say?

Hulababy · 23/07/2007 13:15

I think the rules change for each country, rather than EU.

I know France relatively recently set up guidelines/rules on pool safety.

princessmel · 23/07/2007 13:19

We've stayed in lots of nice villas and they've always had pools with NO fences.
Had 7 kids with us this year. It was fine. There was lots of adults to keep an eye out.

SweetyDarling · 23/07/2007 13:25

Please don't be complacent though.
Can all the children swim?

Original poster
MyEye · 23/07/2007 13:28

no, most of them can't

I feel daft not picking this up when we booked.

i guess we'll have to have a rota, one adult by pool which is some distance from house at all times

not exactly ideal

OP posts:
alicet · 23/07/2007 13:40

I think unfortunately you can't presume anything when abroad as regulations very greatly. If there are 6 adults though you should be able to still have a relaxing time - I'm sure you will spend a lot of time by the pool anyway and you oculd just make one person in charge of watching the pool for an hour / half an hour / whatever at a time so the rest of you can relax

Enjoy your holiday!

MilaMae · 23/07/2007 14:15

You can get pool alarms, seen them in France.

Why don't you try googling it. I think they were just a little device that sits by the pool like a baby monitor with a sensor then you have an alarm thing. You'd have to make sure people took turns to listen out properly for it though. What a nightmare.

Our gite has got one with a gate but still sending dad out to by a padlock-he thinks I'm slightly over reacting but my boys can get into anything. Think that generation forget don't they.

MilaMae · 23/07/2007 14:18

You'd probably still need to take turns guarding it too, would just be extra piece of mind if somebody forget they were supposed to be keeping an eye out.

maisym · 23/07/2007 14:18

a fence around the pool does help but what if the gate was left open or a little one climbed over - you need to monitor the pool even if it has a fence around it

SweetyDarling · 23/07/2007 14:18

Then again, by 6 I could climb any pool fence going, so you still need to be careful even when there is one!

SweetyDarling · 23/07/2007 14:20

I would also have helped my little sister and younger cousins over a fence as well. Generous little thing that I was!

princessmel · 23/07/2007 14:26

When we're away there is always someone by the pool anyway with some or all of the kids. If someone needs to get something or leave then they make sure someone else is there.
You spend most of the day sitting by it imo. When you're at 'home' anyway.
In the mornings before we were up and out we just kept the villa door locked.

Whooosh · 23/07/2007 14:28

I actually think it is far more unusual to have a fenced/secure pool.
Have stayed in all sorts of villas over the last 25yrs and have never had a fenced -in pool....

Heathcliffscathy · 23/07/2007 14:28

imo pool alarms and pool fences are utterly counterproductive in that they breed a false sense of security. bottom line is that if there are young children who cannot swim around, they cannot be allowed anywhere near the pool without adults there.

and given that you are going to be lazing by the pool all holiday that shouldn't be a problem!

KTWhoMustNotBeNamed · 23/07/2007 14:31

I would be worried about safety too - unless all the children are able to swim... I know of a family who had a very narrow escape last summer when their toddler fell in the pool at their rented villa - luckily they found him in time but it was very close....

I personally wouldn't be able to relax - it's not just when the kids are playing outside by the pool, the child I know of wandered outside while her parents were just gathering a few belongings together for a day out....

TranquilaManana · 23/07/2007 14:39

pita isnt it?

rented a villa in majorca a couple of years ago, with my then 1 and 2 yos. had a kids pool and a bigger one. not a fence in sight. didnt realise the stress of keeping both dc in sight at ALL times would be quite so tiring.

had the bright idea of heading out to the bricolaje (B&Q equiv) to get fence posts and wire fencing and building my own! (was all grass around the pool so i could just bang the poles into the ground.) kept them out till about the last day or so, when they managed to breach the defenses, little rats

agree w sophable re you cant relax anyway, but still, at least it gives you a moments peace as you know if they do get to the poo, it'll take them more than 3 seconds out of your sight (and some determination) to get there.

right, so, whos gonna set up a villa agency specialising in villas with safe gardens and pools then?? make a mint out of parents...

SweetyDarling · 23/07/2007 16:50

Sounds like it's time for some intensive swimming lessons MyEye!

barbamama · 23/07/2007 16:52

I know this owuld be illegal in France - I think in Italy they don't bother about it.

FrayedKnot · 23/07/2007 17:10

Even if you had a fenced pool, I would say lots of kids under 6 could open a gate (unlikely to be lockable) and with a big party of adults & kids, easy to leave a gate open.

Some friends of friends nearly lost their child on a recent holiday when he wandered off while they were eating al fresco & fell in teh pool.

Not worht any kind of risk, nominate at least one adult to be responsible for the kids whatever they are doing, I would say, and take turns.

Original poster
MyEye · 23/07/2007 17:24

I've been in touch with the lettings company. They say my initial email raising this matter was 'disagreeable' in tone

Hmm well not half as disagreeable as some of the things I am picturing...

I'm kicking up a stink, you never know, there might be time to make them put something in

Guess we'll stick to France next time!

OP posts:
zookeeper · 23/07/2007 17:35

The rota sounds a good idea - having lots of adults around can produce a sense of complacency

zookeeper · 23/07/2007 17:36

The rota sounds a good idea - having lots of adults around can produce a sense of complacency

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