Behind the discreet facade of a pavilion in Colombes (Hauts-de-Seine), in the Paris region, a couple and their children are enjoying their last moments of swimming. They pack up their things with satisfaction, and thank their host for this moment of relaxation. It is almost 6 p.m.: in a few minutes, another group is to follow them for a two-hour slot.
No time to waste: the owner of the premises, Lionel (who wished to remain anonymous), 52, throws a robot vacuum cleaner into his pool of 8 by 5 meters, in order to remove the last impurities. Since May, he has been renting out the swimming pool in his garden to individuals: “I don’t stop anymore. In three months, I received around ninety bookings and turned down several hundred”says this international trade consultant.
“My clientele is mainly female: girlfriends who meet for a birthday, bachelor parties… families with children”, he explains. Lionel discovered the Swimmy online platform which, like sites like MyPrivatePool, We Peps, or Rent a swimming pool, makes the link between individuals wishing to swim for a few hours and pool owners, in return for a commission. It is the hosts who set the price: count on average 15 to 20 euros per person and per hour, for a reservation around Paris – a little less in the region.
New followers
And in summer, the concept seduces new followers. Mélanie Lacroix, banking executive, and Katy Grattenoix, administrative manager, both 35, booked with their spouses and children: “Last weekend’s heat wave motivated us: we wanted to spend some time with friends and please the children. It’s a little vacation before its time”rejoices Katy Grattenoix, who is already thinking of repeating the experience.
Since the start of the season, rental sites have been filling up: for its part, We Peps has reported 20% to 30% more requests for private pools than in the spring. Swimmy records 500 reservations per day, compared to an average of 300 in 2021 at the same period. “The prolonged heat wave is clearly in question”explains Raphaëlle de Monteynard, the founder.
From this enthusiasm, Lionel draws 3,500 euros per month by renting his pool daily. The 50-year-old has occupied the family home alone since the departure of his children. But not all owners are dedicated to it full-time: “On average, guests rent ten times in the summer, for a gain of 1,200 euros”says Raphaëlle de Monteynard. “It’s an additional income, which also helps to amortize maintenance costs”explains Benjamin Poutier, co-founder of We Peps. “Most owners are retirees who under-use their pool, or telecommuting executives”, he adds.
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