Concerns that Paphos municipality are about to serve writs on shared swimming pool owners if they do not comply with a long ignored law passed in 1992, are at present unfounded.But, according to the head of Paphos planning department, Savvas Savva, who is responsible for handing out one of the required licenses for these pools, it could happen in the near future.

The law states all shared swimming pools as subject to the same regulations as public pools.There is confusion over what is a public pool. Shared pools are for the use of resident owners and their guests and are not open to the general public. According to the Ministry of the Interior, a pool owned by more than two familes is considered a communal or public pool.But in the laws and regulations, a public pool must measure more than 200m2.

In addition, shared pools must comply with specific regulations such as providing a lifeguard, separate male and female toilets, showers and footbaths. Without an operating licence, a housing complex will not be issued a completion certificate and thus no title deeds. A report in 2008 listed 267 in Paphos of which only 54 are licensed.