COVID Restrictions for Pool Floats & Toys ??

Orlando, Florida
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COVID Restrictions for Pool Floats & Toys ??

David M.Pro Member
Investor · SF Bay Area · Member since 2019 · 11 posts · 12 votes

Good-day !

So, I have a STR in Orlando and my management company tossed all the pool floats (a couple pretty nice ones !) and toys we had, blaming it on COVID requirements. Said not allowed to have them for guests. Past reviews have thanked us for having them available - kids like them. We provided air pumps for inflating the floats so don't know what the issue is.

I can't find any info on such restrictions, so just wondering if this is a real thing or not. Anyone providing pool floats for their guests in Orlando? 

Thanks

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Bruce WoodruffPro Member
Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
4y

Sounds like BS to me. The average Chlorine content in a pool is 2ppm, which should kill any bad bugs. Plus, studies show that the virus does not transmit through swimming or drinking water.

I would 'ask' (read demand) your PM to replace the floats - at their cost. If they refuse I'd find someone else......

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  • Bruce WoodruffPro Member
    Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
    4y

    Sounds like BS to me. The average Chlorine content in a pool is 2ppm, which should kill any bad bugs. Plus, studies show that the virus does not transmit through swimming or drinking water.

    I would 'ask' (read demand) your PM to replace the floats - at their cost. If they refuse I'd find someone else......

    8Reply
  • Carolyn Fuller
    Cambridge, MA · Member since 2015 · 651 posts · 736 votes
    4y

    Makes no sense. Maybe early in the pandemic when no one had any idea how Covid was being spread but today, now that we know it is spread through droplets and aerosols, getting rid of pool floats and toys seems like a bit of "we care about your health" theatrics. 

    Then again, your management company wouldn't want to do anything actually useful, like disinfecting commonly touched surfaces, including the pool items and improving the air quality in common indoor spaces, because that would cost a lot more money than just getting rid of the pool items and calling it a day. 

    Hopefully, indoor air quality will ultimately be where we, as a society, put our resources going forward.

    2Reply
  • Dorothy Bland
    New to Real Estate · Tampa, FL · Member since 2022 · 20 posts · 11 votes
    4y

    Pools pose liability risks. Pool FLOATS encourage people to swim who shouldn't necessarily be swimming, therefore increasing liability exposure even more I bet the HOA's insurance company advised the HOA to toss all pool floats that weren't official life-saving devices.

    0Reply
  • Bruce WoodruffPro Member
    Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
    4y
    Quote from @Dorothy Bland:

    Pools pose liability risks. Pool FLOATS encourage people to swim who shouldn't necessarily be swimming, therefore increasing liability exposure even more I bet the HOA's insurance company advised the HOA to toss all pool floats that weren't official life-saving devices.


    Its not an HOA, it's a PM company. And this is not about swimming liability as much as the Covid thing...

    1Reply
  • Adam Martin
    Rental Property Investor · Member since 2020 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    4y

    Sounds like virtue signaling to me.  You say you have had reviews that mentioned them so they have been there a while.  Either way the pm messed up.  Either they left these inflatable super spreaders of death for previous guests when they should have tossed them or they shouldn’t have now.  I’d find out which one it is and let them know that these need to be reimbursed.  My guess is they had a new cleaner who thought they belonged to guests and tossed them and made this up.  

    4Reply
  • John UnderwoodPro Member
    Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
    4y

    I'm not replacing my lake floats and life jackets after every guest.

    1Reply
  • Bruce WoodruffPro Member
    Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
    4y
    Quote from @John Underwood:

    I'm not replacing my lake floats and life jackets after every guest.


     Ah c'mon John, be a good host..... :-)

    1Reply
  • Mike Dymski
    Investor · Greenville, SC · Member since 2016 · 5k+ posts · 13k+ votes
    4y

    The PM does not allow them or the community?  If it's the former, then throw them (the PM) out.

    0Reply
  • David M.Pro Member
    OP
    Investor · SF Bay Area · Member since 2019 · 11 posts · 12 votes
    4y

    Ha Ha. Love the replies. Thank you all !

    Yes they had been in use a year or so before COVID hit. Sounds like others have not heard of such a thing. I’ll have to have a discussion with the PM… Good case for self managing I guess…

    0Reply
  • Theresa HarrisPro Member
    Member since 2019 · 15k+ posts · 11k+ votes
    4y

    The PM is wrong.  I'd have them reimburse you.  Between the chlorine in the pool and the time between use, the pool toys will be fine.

    0Reply
  • Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
    4y
    Quote from @David M.:

    Good-day !

    So, I have a STR in Orlando and my management company tossed all the pool floats (a couple pretty nice ones !) and toys we had, blaming it on COVID requirements. Said not allowed to have them for guests. Past reviews have thanked us for having them available - kids like them. We provided air pumps for inflating the floats so don't know what the issue is.

    I can't find any info on such restrictions, so just wondering if this is a real thing or not. Anyone providing pool floats for their guests in Orlando? 

    Sounds like someone threw them out (or took them) and the PM is using COVID as an excuse. 

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  • Joe C.
    FL · Member since 2018 · 81 posts · 68 votes
    4y

    To the contrary, in NJ the COVID pool rule changes stated:

    Allow patrons to use their own water play equipment, including but not limited to goggles, snorkels, fins, kickboards, pool noodles and toys, however the pool facility
    shall:
    ▪ Prohibit the sharing of such equipment except among immediate family members, caretakers, household members, or romantic partners; and
    ▪ Not provide such equipment for rent or other use to patrons while at the pool facility.

    This applied to all pools under control of the bather code, which unfortunately included our 12 unit condo building. Everything except a SFH pool is covered by the bather code in NJ.

    0Reply
  • Bruce WoodruffPro Member
    Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
    4y
    Quote from @Joe C.:

    To the contrary, in NJ the COVID pool rule changes stated:

    Allow patrons to use their own water play equipment, including but not limited to goggles, snorkels, fins, kickboards, pool noodles and toys, however the pool facility
    shall:
    ▪ Prohibit the sharing of such equipment except among immediate family members, caretakers, household members, or romantic partners; and
    ▪ Not provide such equipment for rent or other use to patrons while at the pool facility.

    This applied to all pools under control of the bather code, which unfortunately included our 12 unit condo building. Everything except a SFH pool is covered by the bather code in NJ.


     Well it's NJ so not a big surprise. FLA is a different state and mindset.

    1Reply
  • Austin Johnson
    Investor · Jefferson City, MO · Member since 2020 · 190 posts · 178 votes
    4y

    I'd probably politely ask them to show you the studies showing its a COVID risk as well as the laws in place restricting them. State you were unaware of the serious death risks of pool floats and you want to correct yourself moving forward as not to put anyone else at risk. 
    that's my most professional solution. I've only typed and retyped this comment about 5 times, attempting to remove all snide comments

    0Reply
  • Bruce WoodruffPro Member
    Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
    4y
    Quote from @Austin Johnson:

    State you were unaware of the serious death risks of pool floats 

    Perfect!


    0Reply
  • Ryan MoyerBusiness Member
    Property Manager · Orlando Kissimmee Davenport Salt Lake City, Park City · Member since 2019 · 991 posts · 1k+ votes
    4y
    Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:

    Sounds like BS to me. The average Chlorine content in a pool is 2ppm, which should kill any bad bugs. Plus, studies show that the virus does not transmit through swimming or drinking water.

     Water is pretty awesome.  You can swim in a pool with fuel rods fresh out of a nuclear power plant sitting at the bottom and so long as you stay a few feet away you're exposed to less radiation than someone walking down the street 1000 miles away.

    And yes, in this case it sounds like the PM just doesn't want to deal with it and is using Covid as an excuse.  Classic big PM company that treats your (OPs) arrangement like they're doing you a favor by hosting your home for you, rather than you doing them a favor by letting them make money off of an asset YOU own.  Don't settle for that kind of arrangement, imo.

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  • Mike Dymski
    Investor · Greenville, SC · Member since 2016 · 5k+ posts · 13k+ votes
    4y
    Quote from @David M.:

    Ha Ha. Love the replies. Thank you all !

    Yes they had been in use a year or so before COVID hit. Sounds like others have not heard of such a thing. I’ll have to have a discussion with the PM… Good case for self managing I guess…

    The PM has no reason to take a stance on this; so, I suspect they feel they are following code or HOA guidelines (and they may be) and that's easy to find out by asking them.

    0Reply
  • David M.Pro Member
    OP
    Investor · SF Bay Area · Member since 2019 · 11 posts · 12 votes
    4y

    Thanks again everyone. Appreciate all the input. I'll do my best to refrain from snide comments to, Austin. 

    Let you all know how I make out. 

    0Reply
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