Neighbor renting out their "Poolside Paradise." Renters keep coming to my house.

[jark87]

I’m a big fan of shared services, with VRBO as my favorite. We’ve had some outstanding rentals at a fraction of hotel costs. But I’m with most of the other people who have responded to this - I don’t think I’d be willing to rent my pool out. We have a $1m umbrella policy, but I suspect there are exclusions for that kind of activity. As far as gate locks go, we just use carabiners instead of locks. Our fence is wooden and 6’ high so no one can take out the carabiners from the outside, but they’re easier than an actual lock for us.

 

[Mdragger88]

I love Vrbo I’ve only ever rented someone’s dedicated vacation home- air bnb is kinda weird though if it’s not a dedicated vacay place. Like just an extra room in their house. Creeps me out.

 

[jimim]

I work with a girl who does the whole verb thing. lake house. she just had a family destroy thier kitchen and some furniture. she is having a rough time with the whole process. things are getting sorted out but its a real pain she said.

 

[Newdude]

Supposedly AirBnB throws tons of money at the problems so the owners don't badmouth the service and warn other homeowners about joining.

 

[SJPoe]

make sure your liability insurance company has you as a commercial pool and you're paying sufficient premiums for basic and umbrella liability

This was the first year I saw a specific exclusion clause on my car insurance renewal - no Ride Sharing, Delivery or third-party rental usage is covered. I'd seen 'no business use' in the detail before, but this was the specific activities blatantly called out right in the declarations and hard to miss. Maybe they are catching up with the trends finally. When they quoted the house insurance, they didn't even care we had a pool. I had to get it called out explicitly in writing to ensure it WAS part of the policy etc., but the premium basically was unchanged.

The dog however...sheesh, you'd think it ate children three times a week or something. I dread to think what it would be if she was a BIG dog

Unless you do it like a business, it seems like a lot of potential liability for a somewhat small gain (and Swimply takes 15% off the top).
Frankly I don't need a second job, and I like to swim in my pool when I want, without worrying if Mr & Mrs Random plugged up the skimmer...

 

[HeyEng]

This was the first year I saw a specific exclusion clause on my car insurance renewal - no Ride Sharing, Delivery or third-party rental usage is covered. I'd seen 'no business use' in the detail before, but this was the specific activities blatantly called out right in the declarations and hard to miss. Maybe they are catching up with the trends finally. When they quoted the house insurance, they didn't even care we had a pool. I had to get it called out explicitly in writing to ensure it WAS part of the policy etc., but the premium basically was unchanged.

The dog however...sheesh, you'd think it ate children three times a week or something. I dread to think what it would be if she was a BIG dog

Unless you do it like a business, it seems like a lot of potential liability for a somewhat small gain (and Swimply takes 15% off the top).
Frankly I don't need a second job, and I like to swim in my pool when I want, without worrying if Mr & Mrs Random plugged up the skimmer...

Our insurance company (USAA) has had a ride sharing exclusion for a while now. They do offer an endorsement to allow it, but like my pool...I ain't sharing my car (or using it as a taxi). They also don't care about the pool (which I pressed them on if there was a significant loss such as a tornado) as it's treated as an "accessory structure" (I think, anyway). I might take a look at the umbrella policy and see what exclusions are listed.

 

[JamesW]

I might take a look at the umbrella policy and see what exclusions are listed.

There is an app called umbrellashare where you rent out your umbrellas.

My insurance company said that the umbrellas are not covered for sharing.

They said that I would need a special umbrella policy.

 

[Toxophilite]

There was a drowning in our area over the 4th. Second one at this residence. A Houston boy died after being found in a pool during a large party, police said

"There had been a large party at the house when the drowning occurred, police said. La Marque police said the outdoor area of the house had been rented out to people who didn't live at the residence, according to the newspaper."

It was the second drowning at this same residence. A 4 year old drowned in same pool while at a party in 2014, though don't think pool sharing was part of the scenario then, but was a rental house.

 

[arff]

Yes, Swimply was the first place I checked and sure enough, the neighbor's listing was right there. I did check Facebook previously the first time it happened and they had my address and assumed that's exactly what they were doing; satellite views are easy to find pools and I imagine this sort of scam is pretty easy to pull off with Venmo/Cashapp.

I do have locking gates, but it's really a shame that I need to lock gates in my own backyard. This is also not really an option because we may need to get to the other side of the fence quickly (dog fits through the fence) and can't constantly be carrying keys. I do lock them when we are on vacation (learned that the hard way once) but day to day this isn't really an option. I guess a sign is the only recourse here really, which is disappointing. I'm guessing those who think they are at the right address will still ring the doorbell too.

You need a Ho Lee.... ! ;ˆ)

 

[Poolbreh]

Set up signs saying “pool this way” and point it down a path that leads to a kiddy pool.

 

[Mdragger88]

There was a drowning in our area over the 4th. Second one at this residence. A Houston boy died after being found in a pool during a large party, police said

"There had been a large party at the house when the drowning occurred, police said. La Marque police said the outdoor area of the house had been rented out to people who didn't live at the residence, according to the newspaper."

It was the second drowning at this same residence. A 4 year old drowned in same pool while at a party in 2014, though don't think pool sharing was part of the scenario then, but was a rental house.

That is terrible
Right after our pool was installed our friend’s little girl drowned in their above ground pool while they were having a party & getting all the kids ready to swim. She was hidden amongst the floats so they didn’t see her when they were looking all over for her after realizing she was gone. It happened in minutes. For this reason I wanted nothing obstructing the view of the pool so we went with wire fencing & we always remove all floats/toys each day. We also have a self closing gate with a magna latch on it that can be locked with a key, door/window alarms & a camera on the pool with alerts on my phone. Any one of these things could have possibly helped save her life. It breaks my heart

 

[Rocket J Squirrel]

You guys got me thinking now. I'm no longer sure if I'd be upset if they used my bathroom, or happy. Darned if they do/don't.

You know the guests would drip all over the bathroom floor. Hopefully just pool water.

 

[Toxophilite]

That is terrible
Right after our pool was installed our friend’s little girl drowned in their above ground pool while they were having a party & getting all the kids ready to swim. She was hidden amongst the floats so they didn’t see her when they were looking all over for her after realizing she was gone. It happened in minutes. For this reason I wanted nothing obstructing the view of the pool so we went with wire fencing & we always remove all floats/toys each day. We also have a self closing gate with a magna latch on it that can be locked with a key, door/window alarms & a camera on the pool with alerts on my phone. Any one of these things could have possibly helped save her life. It breaks my heart

Adults do not realize how long their attention is off the pool when they are visiting. I do! As soon as the first guest arrives, I never leave the side of the pool. I don't trust anyone but myself with the task.

 

[JamesW]

Adults do not realize how long their attention is off the pool when they are visiting.

It's easy to assume that someone else is watching.

There should always be someone who is specifically tasked with watching the pool.

If they have to leave, they need to get someone else to assume responsibility for watching.

Kids need to be taught to pay attention to people in the pool and to alert someone if there is a problem.

 

[tim5055]

Not a lawyer...

I would be tempted to file a complaint with the local department that regulates public pools. If someone is being compensated to allow strangers to use their pools then that would usually fall under the requirements of a public pool. That means permits, inspections, record keeping, and possibly insurance requirements.

It would appear that it would be classified as a “"Semipublic pool"” under Md. Code Regs. 10.17.01.05

Available to an individual upon the payment of a fee for the use of the pool and spa;

I didn't spend too much time running down all the regulations, but it would appear a permit is required, documanted testing of the water must occur on a regular basis, Inspections must occur and lifeguards and first aid responders must be on site when people are in the water.

 

[Toxophilite]

It would appear that it would be classified as a “"Semipublic pool"” under Md. Code Regs. 10.17.01.05

Available to an individual upon the payment of a fee for the use of the pool and spa;

I didn't spend too much time running down all the regulations, but it would appear a permit is required, documanted testing of the water must occur on a regular basis, Inspections must occur and lifeguards and first aid responders must be on site when people are in the water.

That's been some of the arguments of regulatory bodies, but hasn't held too much sway in the end. Once they start down that road, then even basic house rentals come into play. Basically, how much of the government nose can be allowed extended past your own front door?

 

[JamesW]

Basically, how much of the government nose can be allowed extended past your own front door?

If you're doing business and open to the public, it's no longer just a private residence.

You might need a business license, health inspection and other requirements.

 

[Toxophilite]

If you're doing business and open to the public, it's no longer just a private residence.

You might need a business license, health inspection and other requirements.

Yep, that's always been that wide line with these sharing platforms. If you move and rent out your house, are you then required occupancy permit, fire inspections, lighted exit signs, sprinkler systems, etc....? That's the wall those trying to regulate this platform have been met with.

 

[jark87]

If you're doing business and open to the public,

I’m not sure a privately owned pool rented out to a specific group of people under a rental agreement would be considered “open to the public.” Just like a rental house isn’t open to the public - it’s rented under a private agreement between the 2 parties, most of which include liability waivers, which may or may not be enforceable. I haven’t stayed in a Holdiay Inn in years, though, so my legal skills are rusty.

 

[Newdude]

Just like a rental house isn’t open to the public

Forget the town regulations, which are their own quandary that may or may not be enforced. To the insurance company, once you take payment, you are operating a business.

All I know is that my insurance company has way better lawyers than I can afford if I have to fight them over covering what happened during my rental period. My position is shady at best and illegal at worst and it will be an uphill fight.