Swimmer’s novel house (5)
I believe the answer is:
bleak
This clue is a double definition.
'swimmer's' is the first definition.
(I've seen this before)
'novel house' is the second definition.
(I've seen this before)
(Other definitions for bleak that I've seen before include "Cold and unwelcoming" , "Cold and raw" , "Exposed and barren" , "raw > fish" , "Austere" .)