How does having a pool affect homeowner's insurance?

Insurance and the Pool

The question is this: Are you covered in liability in case of an accident or accidental drowning. Increase your liability coverage in your homeowners insurance policy in case of any lawsuits. The insurance rates depend on how much you are covered for. Just like car insurance, you can choose minimum liability, but you may be sued for more than the amount you are covered for. Insurance companies always quote the minimum coverage to get customers, but with a pool, it would be wise to increase your coverage and pay the additional money. Contact your insurance agency.

Here are some other answers:

• The simple answer: It depends. Many factors will vary the answer: the situation of the house; how common pools are in the area; above-ground vs in-ground; is there a fence; is there a diving board or slide; and other similar questions. Generally speaking, in Northern climates, where pools are not very common, the rates will be higher. In Southern or hotter climates, where pools are more common, the rates will be negligible. Calling around for informal quotes is your best bet.

• I just bought a home with an in-ground pool & a diving board. I was told by one insurance broker that a number of companies will not insure pools with diving boards. I did find a company that would do so, but the rates were higher.

• I used to work for a major insurance company and wrote homeowners policies. Our main concern was that the pool access was restricted, viz., a gate around the yard or a gate around the pool. Can the pool be seen from the street, in which case a child may be "lured" into the yard by the looks of an inviting pool. Pools are a big liability concern.
  
  In addition, please be aware that you can be sued if someone drowns in your pool even if they do not have your permission to be there. I have never understood this thought process, but it's just something to look at.
  
  The rate did not change with the company I worked for if you had a pool versus not having a pool.

• The swimming pool at my home has never been affected by my insurance carrier state farm with a swimming pool that has a slide and board. Of course, insurance companies are always looking for a reason for the cost of insurance. Pool Pro-built swimming pools may offer just another benefit when an insurance company is notified.
  
  Having these items is just another reason to have a swimming pool professional who is licensed and insured as the contractor. Here is something noteworthy: The major manufacturers of swimming-pool deck equipment offer the swimming pool professional -- who is licensed and insured -- an additional insurance liability rider. Again, this could be something which would save you, the owner, in the long run. I know that our company offers a copy of this cert and our regular liability cert to all of our potential customers.
  
  Don't forget correctly plumbed dual main drains in every swimming pool in-ground (and above-ground) is ANSI/NSPI-5 2003 code. And adopted by most CABO & BOCA building codes also.

• We are installing a fiberglass pool this week. I called my insurance agent -- State Farm -- and was told there will be no rate increase. I do have an umbrella policy and would recommend that anyone with a significant equity in their home -- whether they have a pool or not -- have umbrella coverage.

• As a supplier of pool-safety gate hardware, one thing we run into is people who have to bring their pool enclosure up to code because of an insurance inspection. Some of these folks are in areas where the local department of inspections does not enforce any kind of pool codes. For more information on gate hardware for your pool gate (including a video) please see the Related Link.

First answer by ID0000000000. Last edit by Sdresh. Contributor trust: 363 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 245 [recommend question]