Swimming pools in rentals?

[Kathrine Pomeroy]

Hi Friends,

What are the pros and cons of having a rental house with a swimming pool?  I know they don't necessarily add value to a house, but do they add value as a rental?  Is the liability not worth it?  Is the upkeep not worth it?  Does landlord or tenant maintain the pool?  Or do you hire a pool service and roll it into the rent?  It is a plus in desert areas like Las Vegas or Phoenix?  

Thank you for your input!

[Bill B.]

My property manager requires pool service I pay for so it’s “rolled” in to rent in my 2 vegas properties with pools. I don’t think I would go out of my way to buy a pool house but often a house with a pool is the same price as a house without. For people without dogs it adds a purpose to the yard. (We have a pool in our primary only becuase without dogs or kids, rocks or grass both seemed like a waste.)

It doesn’t seem to affect insurance quotes at least here. I have a $3million umbrella for the liability but it covers all properties obviously. Long long story short, I wouldn’t pay extra for a pool property but I also wouldn’t avoid a house with a pool.