What: Swimply connects pool owners and people who are willing to pay to swim

Expected pay: Set by you

Husl$core: $$$$

Commissions & fees: 15%

Where: Select U.S. cities

Requirements: Be over age 18 and have a pool

Swimply Review:

Swimply connects pool owners with people who are willing to pay to swim. The idea was reportedly launched when the founder, who grew up in New Jersey, started asking his neighbor if he and his friends could pay her to use her pool. The site says that people now charge from $35 to $200 per hour to allow others to do the same. 

You, as the pool owner, set your rates and say when your pool is available, accepting or rejecting specific requests. Swimply takes a 15% commission when you agree to a booking. (You can also set up times when the site can book requests automatically.)

You also set pool rules, including whether you allow infants, pets and large groups. And, you say whether guests are allowed to use a restroom or have access to other amenities, such as pool toys, stereo speakers, barbecues, etc. 

New service

Recently, the site also added the ability to list your tennis court, yard or experience with the same terms — you set the rates and simply pay the site a 15% marketing fee.

A few cautions

If your pool or other rented space is not available for an agreed-upon booking, you could be charged up to $50 per half hour until the pool is available as scheduled. If you cancel a booking at the last minute, you are subject to a cancelation fee. Guests are too.

The site offers $1 million in liability coverage and up to $10,000 in property damage coverage. This is an important upgrade to the Swimply service and has resulted in SideHusl upgrading the opportunity to better than average. (You should also check your liability coverage before renting out a pool. And be sure to mention to your agent why you are asking. Personal liability policies are often void when using your property for commercial purposes.)

Recommendations

If you have a pool that’s not getting much use and you don’t mind sharing it with strangers, this might be an interesting low-maintenance side hustle. Other sites that help you earn passive income by renting out your space, or a portion of it, consider rent your home by-the-hour sites, such as PeerSpace and Giggster.

Other options for homeowners: CurbFlip and Pavemint, which allow you to rent out your driveway or parking space, and Neighbor, to rent out spare storage space.

What their hosts say (from Reddit)

I have made $2500. I rent for $30 hour and $5 per person after 5 people. Made my profile with the aerial photos from my houses listing when I bought, as well as the nice wide angle photos they took of the whole back yard. My pool is decent size (no hot tub) I started early June and have booked parties every weekend. Amenities I provide are a BT speaker, grill, trash cans, and bathroom.

*Updated 4/15/2022