A Cautionary Tale for Expats: A British Widow’s Pool Predicament in Italy
A British widow residing in Italy has issued a stern warning to her fellow expatriates after facing significant challenges due to a lack of proper permissions for her newly constructed swimming pool. Anne Perkins, 75, a former graphic designer from Brighton, emphasizes the importance of understanding local regulations, as neglecting them could lead to costly repercussions.
After the passing of her husband in 2018, Mrs. Perkins decided to leave England and embrace a new life in the serene countryside of Abruzzo, a central region of Italy. In 2019, she purchased a charming three-bedroom farmhouse for €150,000 (£123,743) near the picturesque seaside town of Vasto, hoping to spend her retirement years in tranquility. She successfully secured residency before Brexit took effect in 2020.
Mrs. Perkins had plans to enhance her quality of life with a pool that would allow her to swim comfortably and alleviate joint pain. After the Covid-19 pandemic made her hesitant to frequent crowded beaches, she decided to construct a swimming pool in her garden. In 2023, she hired a local building firm to create a 15-meter pool. After months of hard work, the pool was nearly complete when her world was turned upside down.
One fateful day, a police officer arrived at her home for an inspection, having been alerted by some disgruntled neighbors who were disturbed by the construction noise. “We had already dug about four meters deep into the garden, added concrete, and filled the pool with water,” she recalls. “When the officer knocked on my door, I had no idea that I needed to obtain permits from local authorities for an outdoor pool. I mistakenly believed permits were only necessary for indoor pools with roofs.”
Facing the harsh reality of her situation, Mrs. Perkins quickly learned that she needed to restore her garden to its original state before she could even think about applying for the necessary permits. “I felt like such a fool! If only the building company had informed me about the legal requirements, or if I had asked around, I could have avoided this entire ordeal,” she lamented.
She was given an ultimatum: restore her garden immediately or face a fine of €5,000 (£4,125). This meant undoing all the work that had been done, which included:
- Draining the pool
- Removing the concrete
- Transporting debris to a certified disposal site
- Bringing in soil to fill the excavated area
- Laying wooden planks and replanting grass
All of this cost her an additional €5,000 and consumed about five months of her time. Only after restoring her garden could she apply for the necessary permits to rebuild the pool, which would require another €20,000 to construct from scratch.
“I submitted my permit application last year and am still waiting for a response. To navigate the bureaucratic maze, I had to hire a surveyor to handle the paperwork, liaising with local and regional authorities for the multiple approvals needed regarding structural ground safety,” she explained, expressing her frustration with the complexities of Italian bureaucracy.
Moreover, Mrs. Perkins was unaware that her farmhouse was situated near a protected park, classified as potentially containing archaeological remains. “This means that even the underground areas of nearby homes could be of archaeological interest, necessitating further ground checks before any excavation can occur in private gardens,” she adds. Luckily, geological experts inspected her garden and found no issues that could complicate matters further.
If all goes well with the authorization process, Mrs. Perkins hopes to commence the construction of her new pool, which she anticipates will take about a year to complete. She is determined to finalize the necessary paperwork and navigate the seemingly endless bureaucratic hurdles.
Mrs. Perkins insists that other British expats living in idyllic farmhouses should be vigilant about local building regulations. “I fell foul of the local authorities’ building permits, and I urge other expats to be cautious,” she warns, highlighting the importance of being informed and compliant with local laws.
