Rent A Stranger’s Pool Airbnb-Style, Here’s How

If you’re bummed you didn’t plan a vacation this summer, consider an escape-from-reality substitute that involves grabbing your floatie, beach towel, and sunglasses to hang out in someone else’s backyard pool for the day. (And you don’t have to hop the neighbor’s fence all stealth-like either.)

Swimply is a marketplace for homeowners to rent out their pools by the hour. Whether you want to take a break from real life and use a pool for a few hours in your hometown or you’re traveling and lamenting not booking the vacation rental that came with a pool, you can choose from more than 13,000 pools listed on the online platform across all 50 states, as well as Canada and Australia. 

How Swimply Works

Owners (called Hosts) set their pool’s availability by the hour, as well as their hourly rental prices; the average cost is $45/hour. Each listing notes the pool dimensions, depth, water type (saltwater or chlorine), and surroundings (in the shade or sun, fenced-in, or with a view). 

The pool owner also describes any amenities available, such as lounge chairs, umbrellas, Wi-Fi, towels, pool toys, barbecue grill, or hot tub. Amenities may be included in the hourly rental fee or require an additional payment. 

Each listing says whether or not children are allowed and notes the maximum number of guests permitted. Some Hosts have restrooms available near the pool, while others allow guests to use a bathroom in their home. Host rules might include no parties, no glass around the pool area, and no smoking. 

Guests (known as Swimmers on the website) make bookings online and Host and Swimmer communicate solely through the online platform or app. Like vacation rental platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo, guests receive full details about the pool — including exact location and access information — once the booking is made and paid for. Swimply charges a non-refundable 10 percent service fee.

Interest In Pool Rentals Is Booming

Swimply says that the company has grown 4,000 percent over the last year. About 100 Hosts request to join the platform daily. 

It can be lucrative renting out an underutilized pool. Swimply says a Portland pool owner has made $130,000 since joining, a retired teacher made almost $50,000 in one year, and another couple earned $18,000 in a few months. 

Swimply provides Hosts with liability insurance and property damage protection. 

Coming soon from the folks at Swimply: Joyspace, where homeowners can rent out their basketball courts, fitness studios, and other play spaces in their homes.