Swimming pool rentals on Swimply have turned backyard water into serious money for homeowners in Los Angeles, with the top example in the set reaching $299,395. The figure sits alongside other six-figure totals and shows how far the side hustle has moved beyond pocket cash.
At the top end, the Disney+ Dive-In Theater pool has earned Amit Janweja $299,395 so far. Dino’s Hollywood Hills Oasis has brought in $276,295, while The Orange Pool in the Hollywood Hills has netted Natalie and Alex Bykov $264,772.
Those totals come from a model where hosts set their own rates, usually from $50–$150+ per hour depending on the property and amenities. Swimply handles payments and some insurance, which keeps the booking side simple once a pool is listed and priced.
Renters can list pools only with their landlord’s explicit written approval. Bunim Laskin said, “If the Swimply host is a renter they would need proof of permission whether its a signed note, email, etc. We also double check with the homeowner in these cases.”
Jim Battan shows the tradeoff behind the easy-money pitch. His in-ground pool cost $110,000 to build, and he said he looks at his pool chemicals probably five to 10 times a day. “I love to say that [the pool] has paid for itself and more,” he said, adding, “I built a man cave last year, and also credit that to my Swimply pool.”
He also warned, “unless you’re retired or don’t have a day job, it takes a lot of time to learn about pool chemistry and management.” That is the part the six-figure totals do not show, and it is the calculation any Los Angeles homeowner has to make before turning a swimming pool into income.
Hollywood Hills earnings stack up
The three biggest totals in the set are close enough to show a clear tier: $299,395 for Amit Janweja, $276,295 for Dino Baglioni, and $264,772 for Natalie and Alex Bykov. The spread between the top and bottom of that group is $34,623, which is enough to separate the standout pools without changing the basic picture — backyard rentals can become meaningful income.
That pattern is part of why the trend is described as thriving in SoCal in 2026. A 2022 highlight on Swimply hosts across the USA already pointed to the model’s reach, but the newer Los Angeles numbers show it is no longer just an experiment.
A separate pool-closure report shows how quickly backyard water can become a policy issue, but the Swimply side of the story is more direct: homeowners are treating their pools like hourly assets, and the return can reach six figures without turning into a full-time business.
Jim Battan’s pool math
Battan’s numbers explain why. A $110,000 build cost is a big upfront outlay, and five to 10 chemical checks a day is real work, not passive income. His setup still paid back enough for a man cave, but the labor sits underneath the earnings.
For Los Angeles homeowners weighing a listing, the practical path is narrow but clear: own the pool or have a renter’s permission in writing, let Swimply process the booking, and be ready for the maintenance. The big question now is how many more hosts can turn that into a meaningful side income before the market gets crowded.
