Earn up to $100,000 Per Year with Rental Platform Swimply

By Sarah Arksey
Associate Writer

You know those neighbors who are always not-so-subtly nudging you to invite them over for a swim once the summer heat kicks in? Now you can direct them to your Swimply account, a platform that allows homeowners to monetize access to their private pools.

Swimply appears to be the latest addition to a series of Airbnb spin-offs– investors and casual side-gig purveyors alike can now rent out many forms of property such as their home, home pool, or RV!

What’s it like to use Swimply?

You may wonder what the situation with the hosts will be like– will you have a family of five awkwardly having dinner on their patio, silently willing you to leave, as you lounge on one of their floaties?

The sheer popularity of Swimply indicates otherwise. Popular options include a rooftop Los Angeles pool with a view

of the Hollywood sign. Prices start at USD 105 per hour for up to five people, but the massive space can hold up to 50.

Users have the unique ability to sort by the type of day they’re envisioning at the pool. Choose from options like Family Fun, Photoshoot, and even House Party– something users of Airbnb know is a frequent “don’t”. Some pools offer monthly passes as well, starting at just under $15 USD per month.

Some are even dog-friendly– a perfect way for you and your pet to beat the summer heat! The platform boasts over 10,000 options bookable by the hour across the U.S. Swimply has other categories on offer as well– namely, pickleball, tennis and basketball courts.

One user from the San Francisco Bay Area, says he’s used Swimply in a unique way– in order to engage in the nudist lifestyle. How does one go about finding nudist-friendly Swimply pools? “It hasn’t been difficult, but I wouldn’t say easy either,” he says. “You just have to message the host and ask before you book. The booking process isn’t different at all”

He says that he would recommend Swimply to others– “But you definitely need a group to make it worth the cost.”

Potential Downsides

Depending on where you live, you may be breaking local bylaws by using an app like Swimply. In Manitoba, Canada, for example: “Once a private pool is rented out, it is then considered to be public and is subject to the same rules and regulations.” The issue? Swimply holds the opposite stance and does not consider residential pools rented out on the platform to be public.

Regardless, those curious about hosting on Swimply should be aware that it’s very unlikely that their existing home

insurance will cover any damage incurred while renting out a home pool. “Business activities are not usually covered by home insurance,” says a statement from mitchinsurance.com, adding that on the rare occasion that homeowner policies are eligible for business endorsements, home visits by clients are usually not allowed.

“All this to say, this kind of coverage is not available for renting out your backyard pool, because insurance companies consider this an exceptionally risky activity.”

The legal guidelines pertinent to Swimply will inevitably differ between jurisdictions. Regardless– many potential hosts may be dissuaded by envisioned nightmare scenarios of hygiene disruptions, property damage, or even injuries occurring in their home pool. Swimply offers hosts up to one million dollars in liability insurance– enough to put one’s mind at ease in most cases! Of course, individual security deposits are imperative to protect these spaces.

Hosts weigh in

So– is it worth it to give up some of your private pool time in exchange for a new stream of passive income? The collective answer among hosts spoken to by GoNOMAD is yes! Mark from Portland, OR says that his favorite part of using Swimply is two-fold: “First, it certainly helps with the costs of maintaining a pool as the supplies and utility bills are an added expense to a home.

Second, we have gotten to see how much fun it has been for families, whether it’s a gathering or a birthday party, they have a great time, leaving us with many thanks for a great day.”

Mark also notes that for some individuals, spaces booked through Swimply may be more accessible than public pools: “There are also many people with social phobias who stay away from public facilities, and this gives them an avenue to enjoy the water without anxiety.”

GoNOMAD spoke with another user who has been hosting with Swimply for four years, and highly recommends taking the plunge– though she admits she was apprehensive at first. “Before I started, I was very leery of allowing ‘strangers’ in our backyard and pool but everyone has been extremely respectful.”

When asked what her favorite features on the platform are, the user says that “the visibility and marketing power of the platform are by far the most valuable.”

Mark says that his favorite aspect of the platform is how easy the booking system is– in particular, the ability to make changes without needing to talk to a customer service representative.

He adds that over the several years he’s been using the platform, several software updates have been needed to obtain Swimply’s current satisfactory state: “It’s not perfect, but it’s getting there.”

Mark reiterates the other host’s point about the app’s creative marketing: “We can also direct promotions and discounts and send them to previous guests. There is even an option for going after an abandoned basket (someone who looked but didn’t book). We can send them a special discount to try and get them to come back and give it a try.”

Both hosts highly recommend installing an outdoor bathroom for use by guests, for both hygiene and privacy purposes. “We also have a fenced yard and curtains all along the area of the pool, so our guests truly have the space to themselves without either our neighbors or us intruding on their time,” says Mark.

Overall, the verdict appears to be that using Swimply is well worth it for both the customer and the host. Mark finishes by saying: “We hear of horror stories, but after almost 200 guests we can honestly say it has been a pleasant surprise and are glad we are doing it,” adding that his family makes sure to balance time for personal use with Swimply bookings. “It’s a win-win for us and our guests.”