The Airbnb Of Pools Has Just Launched In Australia

If you grew up without a pool or access to the beach in Australia then chances are you cooled down either with air conditioning or you'd head to the local community centre for a splash.

You might have looked longingly at the next door neighbour who had a glistening, sky blue pool - which you weren't able to play in.

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Interestingly, that exact scenario served as the inspiration for an American bloke to create Swimply.

The app is being described as the Airbnb for pools as it allows an owner to rent out their backyard for a price - and it's just launched in Australia.

Creator Bunim Laskin told the Sydney Morning Herald: "We saw Australia as an opportunity since day one.

"Australians do love a pool and it is a country of 2.7 million pools with the highest pool ownership per capita in the world. Australia is also very adaptable to the sharing economy model."

The 22-year-old made a pact with his next door neighbour when he was much younger that he and his 11 siblings would pay to use their pool if it was available.

"We struck a deal my family would help cover the costs so we would have access whenever the grandkids weren't over," Laskin said.

"She was actually making a profit and I thought I can bring this community driven solution to as many people as possible."

And so Swimply was born.

Laskin door knocked his way through Australia and out of 80 homes, only four signed up; but, he hasn't taken it to heart and believes that this could be the next big thing in Australia.

The pricing model has three tiers on offer, with the lowest being $25 an hour for people to enjoy some pool time, $50 for middle of the pack and $75 for the classier pools. The tiers will depend on the facilities that you have available.

You're also not allowed to make a reservation if you're under the age of 18 without supervision.

According to the SMH, Swimply makes its money through 15 per cent of the commission from the swimmers and charging hosts a 10 per cent service fee.

The app was downloaded more than 15,000 times in just two weeks when it launched in America and Bunim is hoping there will be a similar reaction when it hits Australia.

Only time will tell if this is a hit with Aussies.

Featured Image Credit: Tibor Végh/Creative Commons

Topics: News, Interesting, Australia

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

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