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Building a swimming pool in the Costa Blanca
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What could be more perfect than a cosy spacious Spanish home on the Idyllic shores of the Costa Blanca, away from the daily hustle of modern life? Well, how about your own swimming pool to go with it?
What could be more perfect than a cosy spacious Spanish home on the Idyllic shores of the Costa Blanca, away from the daily hustle of modern life? Well, how about your own swimming pool to go with it?
Building a private swimming pool on your property is a perfectly reasonable ambition, and needn’t be as expensive as you’d think. Of course, assuming your not a specialist in pool building (if you were you wouldn’t be here), you won’t actually be building it yourself, but it is quite possible to hire various contractors to build the pool to your specifications.
The very first thing to consider, before building even starts, is the dreaded issue of planning permission. Spanish property laws can be quite strict on what you can build on your land and how big you are allowed to build it, so contact the local authorities to find out the specific restrictions in place on your property. There are also some types of trees which are illegal to cut down, so if you need to clear any foliage to make way for your new pool, be sure to consult the town hall or risk a hefty fine.
Have an architect or a construction company specialising in swimming pools draw up some plans for your proposed pool, and then submit these to the planning officer at the local town hall. It is absolutely essential that you obtain planning permission before commencing building, as if it is refused anything you have already constructed will be torn down by the authorities, at your expense. As with any major building work, you will need a Licencia de Obra Mayor, (or Major Construction License).
Also bear in mind that any improvements you build will be subject to an additional construction tax, usually a percentage of the total construction costs. VAT is also payable, but if you build your pool at the same time as your house the rate of tax is almost halved.
Once you have checked that you can obtain planning permission, you’ll want to look at what types of swimming pool are available to you. As the Costa Blanca has a large expatriate population, there is an abundance of companies offering luxury pool building services.
Many of these companies have their own dedicated architect who will liaise with you to decide on the specifications and layout of your swimming pool, and will also submit an application for planning permission to the town hall on your behalf. As with undertaking any extensive building or improvement work, be sure to check out the company before giving them the contract- check references and licenses thoroughly. Many expats, keen to realise their dream of owning a dream house on the Costa Blanca, have fallen foul of cowboy builders and con artists who are only to willing to prey on the uninitiated. Also shop around to see what warranties are offered on the pool. Some companies offer ongoing pool maintenance services once the pool is built.
Alternatively, you may choose to oversee the project yourself and take a personal approach to hiring contractors to build each individual component of the swimming pool. This may work out cheaper if you are scrupulous when undertaking the project, but it can also be more of a headache than its worth if you are inexperienced at handling building projects, particularly if you are employing Spanish builders and have little grasp of the language.
Depending of course on the size and specifics of the swimming pool, the total build time is usually between one and a half to two months. Prices can vary enormously between €5,000and €25,000. On top of this initial cost, you should consider the additional and substantial costs of keeping and maintaining the swimming pool. The water needs to be treated on a weekly basis, filtered regularly, and repairs may need to be carried out over time. If the pool is heated or lit up this will also cost you extra in fuel bills.
Additionally, by law you are required to install pool safety devices such as fencing, netting or a pool alarm, to prevent death by accidental drowning. These laws are not rigidly enforced, but pool safety is paramount when young children may be playing in the area. You can, ironically, also be held accountable if a burglar was to drown in your pool.
Building your own swimming pool can be a life enriching and extremely pleasurable decision, but be sure to do it sensibly and by the books or it could cost you a lot more than you think.
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| Seller Performance |
| Overall Performance |
7.7 of 10 |
| Customer Feedback |
Excellent |
| Customer Satisfaction |
100% |
| Grading Accuracy |
100% |
| Fill Rate |
85% |
| Time to Ship |
2.5 Days |
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