Swimming pool loan
Financing a pool without forgetting half the budget
A swimming pool loan is a credit linked to works carried out by a pool builder named in the agreement. That classification has a very concrete consequence: if the works are not carried out — defaulting company, planning refusal, cancellation of the quote — the credit is cancelled as of right (art. L.312-48 of the French Code de la consommation). On outdoor works running to several tens of thousands of euros, that protection is far from theoretical.
Market orders of magnitude vary widely: a few thousand euros for an above-ground pool or a kit, €15,000 to €35,000 for an in-ground shell pool, often more for a bespoke concrete pool. Our pool financing is reviewed from €5,000 to €50,000, at a fixed annual rate of 3.90%; beyond that, or if the project forms part of a build, property financing is better suited.
The most frequent mistake is to borrow only the amount of the main quote. Earthworks, removal of spoil, connections, plant room, coping stones, terrace, fencing, the compulsory safety device and the first filling all come on top — and regularly account for 20 to 30 % of the total. An underestimated budget ends in a second, more expensive credit.
- Credit linked to the works: cancelled as of right if the project does not go ahead
- Amount: from €5,000 to €50,000, at a fixed annual rate of 3.90%
- Release of funds in instalments, according to the progress of the works
- Statutory withdrawal period of 14 days (art. L.312-19), which cannot be shortened
Key features
The link with the quote
The credit agreement names the works and the company. If the pool builder does not perform, the credit falls away. Conversely, a credit refusal renders your contractual commitment to them void.
Planning obligations
A pool of more than 10 m² requires a prior declaration at the town hall; beyond 100 m², or with a high enclosure, a building permit. Obtain the authorisation before starting the works, not afterwards.
Compulsory safety equipment
Every in-ground private pool for individual use must be fitted with a standard-compliant device: fence, alarm, cover or enclosure. That expense is legally unavoidable: include it in the amount borrowed.
Running costs
Water, electricity, treatment, winterising and maintenance represent several hundred euros a year, on top of which comes a possible increase in property tax. These charges come after the monthly payment, not instead of it.
How it works
The complete quote
Insist on a detailed quote including earthworks, removal of spoil, connections, safety equipment and surroundings. Compare two or three pool builders: the differences on one and the same project are often greater than the cost of the credit.
The authorisations
File the prior declaration or the building permit. We adapt the financing timetable to the processing timetable, so that you are not paying instalments before the works have even begun.
Reviewing the financing
The simulator gives you the monthly payment for the full budget. As lender and broker, we then finance certain applications directly and put the others out to competition on total cost, subject to review and acceptance.
Signature and releases of funds
After the 14 days of withdrawal, the funds are released in instalments as the works progress, on presentation of the works progress statements.
What we secure on a pool project
- We check that the credit is indeed linked to the works: that is your protection if the project is abandoned
- We size the amount on the full budget, safety equipment and surroundings included
- We compare several lenders on total cost, not on the pool builder’s headline monthly payment
- If your current outgoings are too heavy, we first look at a debt consolidation
Frequently asked questions
As the linked credit is tied to the carrying out of the works, a refusal of authorisation that prevents the project leads to its cancellation as of right. You do not repay a pool you were unable to build. With a credit without proof of use, you would remain committed.
Yes, but for a few thousand euros a non-linked personal loan is often simpler and quicker to arrange than a linked credit backed by an installer’s quote.
A well-built pool lasts for decades, which justifies a longer term than for a consumer item: 60 to 84 months is common on an in-ground pool. Bear in mind, however, that each additional year increases the total cost.
An in-ground pool is a built element: it is declared to the tax authorities and counts towards the calculation of property tax. A development tax is also payable on construction. Plan for these amounts outside the credit.
Yes, but a linked credit only covers the service invoiced by the named professional. For the purchase of materials in self-build, a non-linked personal loan is better suited, without the protection tied to the sale agreement.
Compare before signing. The financing offered on site is rarely the cheapest, and you often only discover it when signing the quote. Our review is free and gives you a costed point of comparison.
Is your pool quote ready?
Have its financing reviewed free of charge before you sign with the pool builder. You will know whether their offer is competitive, or not.
Credit is a commitment and must be repaid. Check that you can afford the repayments before you commit.
