Swimply’s Rise: Renting Private Pools in the Sharing Economy

Renters are increasingly turning to Swimply to host events in private backyards. Meghan Clopton paid $381 to book a Birmingham pool for a three-hour birthday party for up to 30 guests, illustrating the platform’s appeal for local “staycation” gatherings.

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Founder and CEO Bunim Laskin launched Swimply in 2019 after paying a neighbor to borrow a pool for a party with his eleven siblings. The service functions like Airbnb, allowing owners to list pools, tennis courts, and basketball courts for hourly or daily rentals.

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Jasmine Lawson, a Birmingham homeowner, rents her 8-foot-deep pool and hot tub to generate income. Meghan Clopton is a frequent renter who now considers building her own pool. Bunim Laskin leads the platform. Lindsey Cameron, an assistant professor at the Wharton School, and Saša Pekec, a Duke University professor, provide academic perspectives on liability and regulation.

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Swimply operates in 150 cities and has recorded more than 275,000 reservations this year—a 50 % increase over the prior year. Most bookings are local, with guests often using nearby pools for short-term events rather than travel.

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Swimply offers hosts up to $1 million in liability coverage, mirroring Airbnb’s policy. Courts are still defining responsibility when injuries occur in gig-economy rentals. Minnesota’s Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case on whether Swimply pools should be treated as public facilities subject to state licensing and inspections.

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A Swimply spokesperson confirmed the $1 million liability limit and the platform’s presence in 150 cities with 275,000+ reservations this year. Laskin noted that the pandemic accelerated growth, saying the service “became big for the first time during the pandemic” when travel was restricted. The company also highlights privacy filters that let users select listings based on visibility and owner presence.

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Liability concerns have prompted some service providers to disengage; Lawson’s pool-maintenance company dropped her, fearing responsibility for chemical reactions. Legal scholars warn that municipalities may ban rentals, citing “too much liability.” State regulators are exploring licensing requirements that could limit or reshape the market.

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Lawson reports hosting over 1,000 guests annually, providing an air-conditioned room, private bathroom, and a catalogue of 50 pool floats. She says she has never experienced an incident despite back-to-back bookings. Clopton, after receiving construction quotes of $60,000-$110,000 for a personal pool, plans to continue renting and envisions listing a future pool on Swimply as a “great business plan.”

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The precise legal liability of hosts versus the platform remains unsettled, prompting the Minnesota Supreme Court review. No independent data on injuries at rented pools is provided, leaving a gap in safety assessments.

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• “It's part of the culture now, right? Just, like, take over someone else's house or pool for the day or the weekend,” — Meghan Clopton, renter

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• “And it grows every single year,” — Jasmine Lawson, pool owner

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• “We really became big for the first time during the pandemic,” — Bunim Laskin, founder & CEO, Swimply

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• “Because there is not an employer, as one typically thinks of, that you can say, 'You have responsibility for the products that you are putting out into the world,'” — Lindsey Cameron, assistant professor, Wharton School

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• “Some local communities might just say that 'No, you cannot rent your pool because there's too much liability,'” — Saša Pekec, professor, Duke University

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• “It's absolutely a great business plan and I would not say no,” — Meghan Clopton, renter

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The Minnesota Supreme Court will hear arguments on pool classification later this year, potentially setting precedent for state-level regulation. Swimply’s continued expansion will depend on how liability frameworks evolve and whether local jurisdictions adopt licensing requirements.

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