Private swimming pools are becoming one of Malaga’s hottest summer side hustles as more homeowners cash in by renting them out by the hour to tourists and locals looking to escape the heat.
According to pool-rental platform Cocopool, demand across Malaga has surged again ahead of summer 2026, with the company describing the trend as one of the fastest-growing forms of leisure in southern Spain.
The platform, which launched in 2022, now lists more than 60 pools across the Malaga area alone – a figure that is continuing to rise as temperatures climb towards summer.
Cocopool says more than 35,000 users rented private pools through the platform across Spain during 2025, and expects that figure to be ‘vastly exceeded’ this year.
The concept allows homeowners to rent out their pools for a few hours at a time, often for birthdays, family gatherings, barbecues or small private events.
‘The rental of pools is no longer something occasional or anecdotal,’ said Cocopool CEO Gerard Xalabarde, speaking to La Opinion de Malaga.
‘It is becoming a real consumer habit linked to local leisure and a new way of enjoying the summer.’
The company says Malaga is one of Spain’s strongest growth markets thanks to its hot climate, huge number of villas and homes with pools, and the strength of domestic tourism on the Costa del Sol.
‘We are seeing strong demand from both residents and visitors looking for different kinds of plans,’ Xalabarde added.
According to the platform, maintaining a private pool in Spain typically costs homeowners between €2,000 and €3,000 per year once cleaning, water, chemicals and maintenance are included.
However, Cocopool claims many owners are now turning those costs into a profitable income stream.
The company estimates average seasonal earnings from renting out a pool sit around €5,000, although pools in high-demand coastal locations can reportedly generate more than €20,000 over just three summer months.
Hosts are able to set their own prices, schedules, guest limits and rules, while the platform includes payment systems, accident coverage and customer support.
Cocopool says the boom also reflects a broader shift in leisure habits, with many people increasingly preferring private spaces over crowded beaches or public pools.
On the Costa del Sol, pool rentals are commonly being used for birthday celebrations, social gatherings and family meet-ups where guests want greater privacy and control over the environment.
‘It’s like having a villa with a garden and pool for a few hours,’ the company said.
‘Users increasingly value being able to control the space, avoid crowds and create their own experience.’
The trend is also being fuelled by forecasts for another extremely hot summer across Andalucia, although the company insists the rise goes beyond weather alone.
‘There is a structural change in the way people consume leisure,’ Xalabarde said.
‘Fewer long trips, more spontaneous plans and greater value placed on nearby experiences. The private pool fits perfectly into that new lifestyle.’
Spain currently has more than 1.3 million private swimming pools, making it the fourth-ranked country in the world for private pool ownership. Around 30,000 new pools are built across the country every year.
