General

Pool and Spa Deadlines

Upcoming Pool Registration Deadlines

On 1 December 2019, new Victorian laws to improve swimming pool and spa safety came into effect in Victoria. It is now mandatory for owners of land where a swimming pool or spa is located to register their pool or spa with the relevant council.

These laws apply to swimming pools and spas that are capable of holding more than 300mm (30cm) of water. This includes permanent pools, above ground pools, indoor pools, hot tubs, bathing or wading pools and some relocatable pools.

Upcoming Deadlines for Registration

Victorian backyard pool and spa owners have until 1 November 2020 to register their pool or spa with their local council.

Pools and spas constructed after 1 November 2021 must be registered within 30 days after issue of occupancy permit or certificate of final inspection.

If the relocatable pool or spa was erected before 1 November 2020 and remains erected for at least 3 consecutive days immediately before 1 November 2020 the pool or spa owner has until 4 November 2020 to register their pool.

For relocatable pools or spas erected after 1 November 2020 pool or spa owners have until the fourth day after the pool is erected to register the pool.

Fines apply for pool and spa owners who do not register their pool or spa.

Certificates of Barrier of Compliance for Pools and Spas

For pools and spas constructed on or after 1 November 2020, a certificate of barrier compliance is due within 30 days of occupancy permit or certificate of final inspection. This certificate must accompany an application for registration. The next certificate of compliance is due four years after registration.

Pools or spas with construction dates before 1 November 2020 must comply with the following dates to lodge their certificates of barrier of compliance:

• For pools and spas constructed on or before 30 June 1994, a certificate of barrier compliance must be lodged by 1 November 2021
• For pools and spas constructed between 1 July 1994 and 1 May 2010, a certificate of barrier compliance must be lodged by 1 November 2022
• For pools and spas constructed between 1 May 2010 and 31 May 2020, a certificate of barrier compliance must be lodged by 1 November 2023.

Property managers should ensure that evidence of compliance with these requirements are maintained in the landlord’s file.

Top 5 tips for running your real estate agency efficiently

Running a real estate agency can be hard work. Aside from listing and selling properties, you also need to think about a range of big picture issues such as working with your staff, implementing best practice processes around everyday activities, and generally maintaining compliance with regulatory bodies in your State.  To help you stay on track, we’ve put together our top five tips for staying on top of your game and running your real estate agency efficiently.

     1 – Establish a governance system

Getting a basic governance system in place is an excellent first step. Some agents get put off by the idea of governance, but basically it’s all about making sure that you have a robust organisational structure in place throughout all levels of your agency.

Having the right structure in place means that you can easily allocate and track accountability through your organisation, making each member of your team accountable for their actions. If you’re not sure where to start with this, consider mapping out your organisational structure in a flow chart, and then writing up clear position descriptions for each role.

     2 – Put systems and processes in place

We can’t overstate the importance of putting easy to follow systems and processes in place for your agency. With the right systems and processes, each task becomes simple and repeatable. This is great for not only ensuring that your staff are doing things correctly each time, it also helps with getting new staff members up to speed quickly.

     3 – Train your staff on the systems and processes.

Once you’ve put your systems and processes in place, the next step is to train your staff on how to follow them. Afterall, there isn’t much point in having systems and processes if no one actually follows them.

Set some time aside to work with your staff to ensure that they understand what is expected of them. Consider setting up a checklist process for each task and giving that list to the staff member who will be responsible for getting the job done. Once a task is broken down into smaller components, it’s easier to learn and implement.

     4 – Periodically review your performance

Don’t forget that setting up your processes and training your staff is only going to work if you take the time to periodically review your agency’s performance. Make sure you put some time in your calendar (let’s say once a fortnight or once a month) to ensure that things are being done exactly as you have requested they be done.

Not only does this help you stay on top of what’s going on in your agency, it also gives you a clear idea about what your staff are up to, and whether or not they need support in particular areas.

     5 – Establish a culture of compliance

To operate effectively and efficiently your real estate agency should embed a culture of compliance. In addition to establishing the above points, it’s also important to do the following:

• Ensure that your leadership team not only obeys legislation, but also demonstrates it in everything they do.
• Insist that your management team applies your organisational values around integrity, trust and compliance, and communicates these clearly to staff.
• Make sure that your culture of compliance starts with your hiring process. Also take the time to ensure that your values and adherence to compliance are reiterated throughout the various stages of their employment cycle

What’s next? So, there we are, 5 simple and easy to implement changes that you can make to your agency right now that will help you run a more efficient and profitable agency. If you’d like more information about governance and compliance issues for your real estate agency, talk to the team at Apex HR today.