Private pool rentals booming as people continue to avoid crowded places

Not ready to head to a public pool or beach but desperate for a swim? For some in Europe and North America, they can rent one from a private pool owner. — Pixabay

As an alternative to crowded, public places, private pool rentals in some Western countries have been booming since the summer of 2020. This summer, the phenomenon continues to gain ground and fans, buoyed by the trends of staycations and local tourism.

In France, the rollout of the requirement of a health passport for public pools is an additional factor contributing to their popularity.

In the summer of 2021, adults might be vaccinated but their kids aren’t. So the desire to avoid busy places remains a key driver when it comes to booking summer activities – and that’s where private swimming pool rentals come in. Leading the way in France is the Swimmy platform, which hosts hundreds of advertisements throughout the country, and has seen a rise in the number of bookings for small private oases since the national health passport came into effect.

“Since Aug 9, we’ve been seeing mass bookings,” says Sarah Jamy, communications manager at Swimmy. A figure reaching up to 370 daily reservations according to the platform.

Meanwhile, Swimply, present in 125 markets, reported 61,000 bookings this summer compared to just under 37,000 in 2019, as reported by the New York Times. In 2020, it saw a growth of 4,000%, and seems to be winning over more users and hosts in North America.

“We’re not in (the pool) all the time, so we’re passing the benefit on to others, especially those who aren’t comfortable with public pools during the pandemic,” Mansoure told the Journal de Montreal.

The appeal for such rentals started to grow alongside the first lockdowns of 2020. Rentals of outdoor or backyard spaces to celebrate events, birthdays, or simply to spend the afternoon with your feet in the water. French platform Swimmy, for its part, recorded 16,000 reservations during the 2020 summer season.

“Since Covid-19, there has been a boost in activity,” says the company’s communications manager. And this year, despite less than favourable weather in July, bookings are holding at significant rates. The private pools present an alternative to crowded beaches and activities requiring a health passport in the country.

As with platforms such as Airbnb, renting between private parties brings together very diverse profiles. “Among the owners, we tend to have retired people, and on the renters’ side, it’s mostly young people. This leads to new encounters and exchanges between generations,” says Sarah Jamy.

There are also all sorts of prices. Depending on the pool and its location, count between 17 euros and 70 euros per person for half a day on a platform like Swimmy. Some owners have even renovated their garden, added a barbecue or outdoor shower in order to make a more welcoming environment for guests.

Of course in addition to intergenerational encounters, the system also offers new sources of income for the owners. An argument put forward by Swimmy in order to attract new profiles as demand exceeds supply.

“We have 3,000 pools for 158,000 renters,” says Sarah Jamy, before adding that “last year, one owner earned up to 11,000 euros over the June-September period.”

Already established in France and Spain, Swimmy is expected to soon expand their service to Italy and the United States. The goal for 2021? “Reach 40,000 reservations by the end of the summer.”

As for Swimply, the app is planning to extend its private pool rental service between individuals with the addition of a “Joyspace” tab: a space for renting sports grounds and home studios between individuals. – AFP Relaxnews

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