Backyard pool rentals make big splash in Toronto. But it's not going swimmingly for neighbours

One of this past summer's hottest trends could soon be coming under the scrutiny of Toronto councillors and city staff.

The popularity of backyard private pool rentals has skyrocketed since May — reaping six-figure incomes for some pool owners in the Greater Toronto Area, according to Swimply, the online platform that lists them. But they're also causing serious headaches for some neighbours.

"A single pool rental location in my ward disrupted several families' enjoyment of their properties this summer," Deputy Mayor Denzil MInnan-Wong says in a motion going to council Monday that calls on city staff to look into regulating the industry.

"In Toronto, we should expect this service to grow considerably for next year's pool season. The next six months are the ideal time to analyze this issue and develop an approach to managing it next summer."

Homeowners have increasingly been using Swimply, which acts as "the matchmaker," according to the company's vice president of growth Sonny Mayugba, between those with unused backyard pools and people who pay by the hour to go for a dip.

The California-based service expanded into the GTA in the summer of 2020, with only about a dozen pool owners taking part, according to Mayugba.

By the end of this past summer, almost 1,000 hosts had signed up, he said. And he expects the number of pools available in the GTA will be three to five times higher by next summer.