When we think of summer, we might picture ourselves lounging around a local pool while our kids are splashing happily in it. But this fantasy is off the table this year due to the COVID-19 risk. Most people are afraid of going out in public and public areas, especially areas like public swimming pools, malls, and markets.

Being a pool owner allows you to earn some additional income by making your pool available for the paying guests.

But the question is –

Should you rent out your pool?

You probably have heard about people renting out their homes or parking space. Renting your swimming pool is an option worth pursuing if you own a vacation property. There could be many people in your town who would not like to visit the public swimming pools due to COVID and would prefer a well-managed private pool to enjoy their summer swimming.

By listing your pool property on a rental website you can find people who want to avoid the public pools and go for a private pool for a booked duration. There are various sites that let you list your pool and set hourly rates for rentals. Those interested  can log on to those sites and find pools that fit within their budget.

Prioritize and showcase your safety protocols

If you decide to rent your swimming pool to the public, There are some guidelines you need to ensure. It would be best if you also highlight them around the pool area and in your ad listing:

Social distancing – You need to establish new limits to maintain social distance inside and outside the pool. You also need to limit the number the people inside the pool at a time. Keep in mind that maintaining a social distance of 6 feet is only possible by limiting the number of people in the pool.

Set time for how long people can stay in the pool – Setting duration of time in the pool can help you get more people who can use the pool. You can set a time duration between 1.5 hours and 2 hours for each slot.

For example: You can make slots available specific to families or limit people per slot to 10.

• 10:00-11:30 AM
• 12:00-1:30 PM
• 2:00-3:30 PM
• 4:00-5:30 PM
• 6:00-7:30 PM
• 8:00-9:00 PM

This way at least 60 people can use the pool each day.

Note: The number of people allowed in a pool would depend on the size of your pool.

Manage the time to include disinfecting or sanitizing the pool – Use 30-minute breaks after each slot to sanitize the swimming pool properly. Use EPA approved disinfectants to clean pool accessories such as:

• Handrails and pool ladders
• Door handles inside and outside
• Restroom doors, sinks, faucets, paper towel dispensers, baby changing stations, and toilet levers, etc.
• Light switches, emergency buttons
• Lockboxes, and more

Limit the use of shared objects – Ask people to bring their towels, toys, and other things that are difficult to disinfect. It also includes objects such as goggles, nose clips, and snorkels.

Safety Checklist – Before listing your swimming pool on any online portal, you need to be sure that your pool is safe. Here is a checklist to inspect the safety of people around your swimming pool:

• Does your swimming pool has a pool fence? If not, get in touch with Life Saver Pool Fence. They can help you install the strongest, safest swimming pool fence that will stand up to both the harshest conditions and test-of-time.
• Are safety rules, emergency information, and evacuation routes prominently displayed?
• Is a resuscitation chart visible?
• Does the swimming pool require good repair?
• Are floor surfaces non-slippery, unbroken, and maintained in a safe condition?
• Are door gates, latches, alarms, and locks in good condition and working smoothly?
• Are hazardous substances stored and labeled correctly?

Want to know more about pool fences, get in touch with us here!