A good maintenance contract isn't the longest one, but the one that makes clear what gets done, how often, who supplies the chemicals and what happens when something breaks. This is the checklist we'd use to compare offers, ours included.
Everything in writing
The checklist for comparing
| Item | What it should make clear |
|---|---|
| Visits | How many a week in and out of season, and on which days. |
| What each visit covers | Testing and adjusting chlorine and pH, cleaning skimmers and pre-filter, backwashing when due, floor cleaning, equipment check. |
| Chemicals | Whether they are included in the price or charged separately, and who stores them. |
| Water checks | Who carries out the twice-daily routine checks Decreto 99/2024 requires in communities of more than 30 homes, and who fills in the log book. |
| Lab tests | Who orders the initial and periodic lab tests, and whether their cost is included. |
| Qualified staff | That the technician holds the required qualification, including the SEA757_2 professional certificate from 2 January 2027. |
| Insurance | That the company has liability insurance for its work. |
| Repairs and parts | Whether labour for minor repairs is included and how parts are quoted. |
| Opening and closing | Whether the spring start-up and winterising are part of the contract. |
| Response time | How quickly they come out for a problem: green water, a pump failure… |
| Reports | How the board knows what was done at each visit. |
| Term and price | Duration, payment terms, price reviews and how to cancel. |
Warning signs
- "Full maintenance" without detailing what each visit includes.
- Chemicals "as used" with no reference price.
- Nobody takes on the daily checks in a community that is required to do them.
- No insurance, or no details for the company and the technician.
How we do it
Our plans set out all of the above in writing and, at every visit, we log chlorine and pH on the platform so the board can see it from their phone. You can compare plans in Compare plans or get an estimate in Calculate your quote.
Frequently asked questions
Are chemicals usually included?
It depends on the company. What matters is that the contract says so clearly: whether they are included, or what reference price applies if charged separately.
Who does the twice-daily checks?
They are mandatory in communities of more than 30 homes. The lifeguard, the concierge or the maintenance company can do them, but the contract must make clear who.
What is the SEA757_2 certificate?
It's the professional certificate that, from 2 January 2027, anyone treating the water of a community pool will need. We explain it in the professional certificate guide.