I've mentioned this before, but during a prolonged absence in SE Asia, I had let out a furnished apartment in my French property, with clearly delineated land borders, responsibilities, rights of use. It was a furnished rental lease contract, 1 year renewable. The agreement did NOT include use of the pool. Nor was there any verbal agreement for the use of the pool.
I have a swimming pool, fully enclosed by 1m60 concrete walls, entrance via a locked gate. In need of repair (new pump, repairs to electrics in poolhouse, replacement of underwater pool lights), I decided not to use it last summer, and so did not fill it for my own use before leaving at the end of June 09. The tenants were informed that it was in need of repair and that I was looking for quotes. They were aware that the repairs required work being done in an empty pool.
The tenants were entrusted with all the keys to the property (including my own apartment, garages, as well as the pool key) in case of incident, leak, whatever, during my absence).
Shortly after I left, I the swimming pool was unlocked and part-filled without my knowledge or permission. People from elsewhere were invited to trespass onto my property without my knowledge. Obviously the water had promptly turned green, as there was no working filtration system, the pump being out of action. By the time of the planned illegal pool party, the pool was barely half-full as they had miscalculated the time needed to fill it; but that didn't stop them. The party went ahead, the inevitable happened. A 17 year old youth died several days after diving into the dangerously shallow water and hitting his head on the bottom.
Despite the fact that I was on the other side of the world, that I had left an empty, walled, securely locked pool behind me, that no one had permission to use it, I have just received a procès verbal for involuntary homicide - ie a complaint has been filed against me personally. Ok I am not alone - the 'responsible' adult who had allowed the party to go ahead has I assume been similarly 'warned'. But I now have the hassle of dealing with this, the expense of getting legal advice, etc.
So pool owners be warned. You might think you have taken all the necessary precautions, but be very careful. Especially if your pool is not completely secure. For even the family of trespassers can come after you in France, if one of them injures or kills himself on your property.
I have a swimming pool, fully enclosed by 1m60 concrete walls, entrance via a locked gate. In need of repair (new pump, repairs to electrics in poolhouse, replacement of underwater pool lights), I decided not to use it last summer, and so did not fill it for my own use before leaving at the end of June 09. The tenants were informed that it was in need of repair and that I was looking for quotes. They were aware that the repairs required work being done in an empty pool.
The tenants were entrusted with all the keys to the property (including my own apartment, garages, as well as the pool key) in case of incident, leak, whatever, during my absence).
Shortly after I left, I the swimming pool was unlocked and part-filled without my knowledge or permission. People from elsewhere were invited to trespass onto my property without my knowledge. Obviously the water had promptly turned green, as there was no working filtration system, the pump being out of action. By the time of the planned illegal pool party, the pool was barely half-full as they had miscalculated the time needed to fill it; but that didn't stop them. The party went ahead, the inevitable happened. A 17 year old youth died several days after diving into the dangerously shallow water and hitting his head on the bottom.
Despite the fact that I was on the other side of the world, that I had left an empty, walled, securely locked pool behind me, that no one had permission to use it, I have just received a procès verbal for involuntary homicide - ie a complaint has been filed against me personally. Ok I am not alone - the 'responsible' adult who had allowed the party to go ahead has I assume been similarly 'warned'. But I now have the hassle of dealing with this, the expense of getting legal advice, etc.
So pool owners be warned. You might think you have taken all the necessary precautions, but be very careful. Especially if your pool is not completely secure. For even the family of trespassers can come after you in France, if one of them injures or kills himself on your property.