Swimming pool in a rental?

[Mitch Kronowit]

Here's something I haven't seen anybody bring up yet. Does anybody rent out a house with a swimming pool? I found a house for sale in San Diego with a pool and it got me thinking. Do you pay a pool "boy" to maintain it for you or leave it up to the tenant (I think I know the answer here)? Do pool homes rent faster and/or for higher rents? What are the big issues involved here besides maintenance, e.g., liability, security deposits, etc.?

Looking forward to your inputs, as always. Thanks.

[Kyle Meyers]

I would avoid a SFH with a pool. It just seems like too much liability. I believe pools are the leading cause of death for children in the US, (not positive if I remember that right, but I know it is up there on the list). I would also expect that it lowers the likelihood of someone with children wanting to rent from you.

[Dale Osborn]

Ask your insurance company about such an idea. I wanted to add a playground at an apartment complex and was told if I did the insurance carrier would cancel my coverage.

[George P.]

I wanted to say something meaningful but the only word that comes to mind is LIABILITY ...
PS Someone has recently told a story on BP about being liable for hot water burning a boy.

[Mitch Kronowit]

Thanks everybody. What I'm hearing here is liability, liability, liability. Perhaps that's why so few pool homes are used as rentals? But there must be some "accidental" landlords out there that owned a pool home that got pressed into rental service. Anyone know of any?

Thanks again.

[Jon Klaus]

So many apartments have pools. For many the increased rent/desirability must be worth the liability and what it costs to insure.

[Scott Hubbard]

I have had both positive and negative experiences with pools in rentals. In lower to middle income target markets, they are likely not worth the hassle unless the purchase price allows you to fill it in. Most people do not have the time, money, or inclination to take care of a pool. It is literally a money pit with maintainence and repair costs.

However, if you have MFH or high-end rental, I believe you can get your money's worth. If you can pass on the costs to the tenant and the pool is an added value item that is in demand by the targeted tenant market, then you may be able to justify the liability.

With an SFR, the landlord should require the tenant maintain the pool at his or her own expense conditionally as part of the lease agreement. Suggest a pool company and offer them a discount in rent if they use them.

I have had tenants who sometimes had their kids maintain the pool as part of the list of chores, while others preferred to hire a pool company. Either way, you need to stipluate the care of such things in the lease agreement.

[Bill Gulley]

Is this an indoor pool or outdoor pool?

Either way, IMO, the best pool for a SFD rental is one filled with dirt.

Liability, maintenance and the market (with the exception of CA and FA, I would think,) the rental market would not require a pool to be competitive, an apt. complex is another issue as it is almost an expected amenity. With apts, the potential liability is spread over all the units as is the maintenance, so the cost of having it is much lower than it would be for a SFD. Not the same market at all.

[Just Don]

'here' pools in sfh take a 10-20K "HIT". No body wants them,,for maintance and liability issues. Plus marketing time is about 3 times as long.

Guy I know wants to put in a pool,,,I ask if he was kidding,,,cause from financial aspect its a waste of money, plus taxes are higher,real value that much lower. Cant win here

[Jon Klaus]

Originally posted by Just Don:
'here' pools in sfh take a 10-20K "HIT". No body wants them,,for maintance and liability issues. Plus marketing time is about 3 times as long.

Guy I know wants to put in a pool,,,I ask if he was kidding,,,cause from financial aspect its a waste of money, plus taxes are higher,real value that much lower. Cant win here

Kind of like a boat--it's about the lifestyle, not the ROI.

[Jon Klaus]

And Don, your friend might want to buy a house with a pool to get the discount and the pool.

I just happily bought a house (my residence) with a pool.

[Tom C]

I have tenants ask all the time if they can put up a kiddie pool and the answer is the same.. NO! Take a cold bath.

[Loretta A. Steele]

Rentals with pools will have liability issues as others have stated.

We are in Southern California and we know how we love pools. But when it comes to rentals, you need to evaluate a number of issues.

In the neighborhood, will your rental be the only pool on the block? Will it see a lot of activity because of this point?
How is the pool protected? How many times have you seen news reports of pool accidents during the summer months?

Also you will need to look at the maintenance issues with a pool.

- Monitoring calcium hardness once a year
- Maintaining your chlorine levels
- Checking the pH
- Checking the alkalinity
- As the surface of the pool begins to age, the plaster will require repairs
- Maintaining the filter and or filter/heater, if is the pool heated

As far as who should maintain the pool, I would advise hiring an experienced company. Do not let your tenant maintain the pool or let them chose the pool company.

Hope this gives you something to think about.

[Stan Jackson]

There's nothing like a neighborhood pool for rug rats to hang out during the summer!

When little Johnny hits his head on the deck, there goes the pool and the house and whatever else in that LLC.

The risk is too great!

[Mitch Kronowit]

Thanks everyone. Yeah, it sounds like way too much trouble, especially for someone like me who has never owned a pool before and certainly shouldn't buy my first one via a rental property. I'll pass on this pool home.

[Serge S.]

I would respectfully disagree with you guys on the pool question. In states like AZ and FL and particularly in a nicer neighborhood most homes will have pools. You manage the liability with a fence, pool addendum and insurance. Tenant pays for maintenance and the home rents out twice as fast (particularly in the summer) and for a premium of at least $100.

[B R]

Our adult tenants with no children have asked to put up a 13" diameter, above ground pool because it "helps her back pain." They agreed to put up the rest of the fence if we allow the pool, as it is only 3/4 enclosed.

Different kind of pool, same liablility. Great tenants so far, but the fear of an accident is there. My husband says to ask them if they just want to buy the house; not a bad idea.

Any more thoughts on pools?

[Bienes Raices]

If most tenants can't maintain a yard properly, I don't see them maintaining a pool.

[Rob Gillespie]

Is it only gonna be a rental, or will you be offering to option to purchase?

[Kevin C.]

In certain upscale markets, pools will be expected, but unless you stole the property, those properties will not cash flow.

We've always had a pool here in TX, always had one installed in homes we bought new. Our current home was 20 years old when we bought it and it came with a pool (cheapest way to get a pool if you want one is to buy a property that already has one).

Having owned and maintained pools for years, I will say maintenance is really not that difficult or time consuming, providing you understand what is required.

The last home we sold I would have considered keeping as a rental, but we had a pool and I didn't want the liability. In the area the home was in, pools were pretty common, but having the pool did limit the potential buyers and I'm sure it would have limited potential renters as well.

Personally, even though we'll probably always have a pool at our personal residence, when looking at investment properties pools are deal killers in my book.

I do know other investors that have properties with pools and they have said they are not a problem.

IF I was to somehow accidentally end up with a pool at a rental, I don't think I'd depend on the tenant to take care of it, I'd most likely contract the service out.

[John Khadiyev]

If the tenant maintains the pool they almost always try to limit the timer for the pump or have differed maintenance not emptying baskets,not adding water, not checking chemicals properly. As a pool pro I think you should not trust tenants with pool maintenance. Especially if it is a newer pool. Improper chemical balance will ruin $5k-$8k plaster I have seen this. I agree with previous posts that pools are a money pit, we work on pools every day and I know all the costs.
I bought a rental and removed a pool because I don't want to deal with repairs an upkeep and liability and I own a pool service company. I've done the math, home with a pool on average cost $2000-$3000 per year more to maintain. Water, chemicals, repairs, electricity all adds up. A typical 2hp pump running 8 hours a day cost about $200 a month on (PG&E Tier 3), In my area during the summer pools need water once a week, $40-$50 per month. Chemicals are not cheap either. Typical weekly service with chemicals cost aprox $60-$80 for basic service and up to $140 for full service per month in our area.
I think maintaining pools can cost a bunch of money to landlord (repairs) and tenants (upkeep). But without a doubt in our area pools are desired due to hot summers.
John

[Jon Rosser]

Looks like this is a few years old but glad to see that it's been discussed. I'm moving in the spring and plan to rent out current home, which does have a pool. I'm planning to contract out the pool service and getting an umbrella insurance policy for protection. I can't imagine letting a tenant maintain the pool. Bad maintenance can lead to significant expenses to fix something. I'd rather pay for someone to do it right, consistently and built most of that into the rent.

I am curious if anyone has lease agreements for a home with a pool? Obviously there needs to be language in there about the pool, who's responsible for what, and hopefully reducing liability to a certain extent since they are knowingly renting a house with a pool. I would imagine having a really good lease will be critical in this scenario.

[Chris Masons]

Hi guys,

I am purchasing a SFH with a smaller above ground pool in back. The backyard is very small so there was a pool put in with a deck which takes up whole backyard.

does anyone know the additional insurance costs this will entail? Also i plan to have a pool addendum in the lease? what kind of things can I say to limit my liability? I dont want to remove the pool as it goes really well with the house but I do want to protect myself the best I can.

thanks in advance!

chris

[Eric Belgau]

@Chris Masons Your broker should be able to find a carrier that isn't too adverse to the pool risk.  It's hard to say what difference in insurance cost would be, since there are other rating issues to consider.

In terms of limiting your liability, it's important to manage the risk at the pool, not just in the lease.  You should create pool rules - no diving, no children without an adult, etc. - and those should be posted on a sign by the pool.  (You can add a pool use agreement to your lease, too, requiring signatures.)  The area should be fenced.  If there's an area around the pool that can get slick, you should put traction strips down.  Going forward, you should be meticulous about maintenance.

After you've taken those precautions, include some documentation with your insurance application and ask your broker to reference it in his/her narrative regarding the risk.

[Chris Masons]

Hi Eric,

Thank you for your detailed response, I appreciate it. Regarding a fence, I am going to post a picture which will better explain the scnario, but the pool is 4 to 5 feet off the ground with a locking ladder that can be engaged and disengaged will that suffice in lieu of a fence? Or as you can see in the below picture I can put a gate at the entrace to the deck (where the stairs are) which leads to the pool, would this suffice? The pool and the deck take up the entire yaard so a fence around the yard is not really an option here.

What are your thoughts.

thx in advance,

Chris

I 'd be cu

[Account Closed]

Definitely! You may search many of Houses with Swimming Pools, I sure that Google can more help you; if you write Rent a House with Swimming pools at Google. There are many of companies which have these facilities.