Borrow

🙌🏼 Borrow is our exciting new feature that helps neighbours lend and borrow everyday household items that they might otherwise buy, store, and let gather dust! 


  • One of the most wasteful things in our society is the fact we have billions of 'things in our local communities that are utilised for just a fraction of their useful lives; meanwhile, our neighbours are busy buying yet more 'stuff'.
  • As we're seeing the climate crisis unfolds it's becoming clear that this endless consumption in a resource-constrained world is taking us perilously close to ecological collapse. 
  • We know our community has questions such as "Will I get my item back?" or "What happens if my item is damaged", and we've worked hard to address these in the launch version of Borrow (see below). We will continue improving it so that lending and borrowing becomes second nature to us all - much like it always has.

🧺 General


  • Does Olio provide insurance when I lend or borrow items?
    • No, all items are lent and borrowed at your own risk. Please only lend low value, non-sentimental items. You can request a cash deposit if you would like for peace of mind, and you can restrict who can borrow your items e.g. Olioers with a 4*+ rating.
  • Can I provide my own insurance?
    • Please speak with your insurance provider to see if you can personally insure the things you lend on Olio.


🤗 For the Lender


  • How can I add something in the Borrow section?
    • Click the purple “+” sign on the bottom right of the Home page and then tap “Borrow”.
  • How can I set restrictions on who borrows it?
    • When you add your listing you have the option to choose some, all or none of the following requirements which restrict who can borrow from you: users who have a 4*+ rating, users who have shared with 5+ Olioers, and users who live within 2km of you.
  • What can I lend?
    • You can lend any of the non-food items on this list
  • How long should I lend something for?
    • As long or a little as you like. Make sure to agree the exact loan period via messaging in the app before you hand the item over. 
  • Can I request a deposit?
    • Yes, you can. Just make sure to specify the amount you require for your cash deposit either when you add your listing and/or via messaging in the app.
  • What if I don’t want to lend it to someone in particular?
    • Then you don’t need to. Only lend items to people you feel comfortable with based on their star rating, their communication style, their location etc. You can find out more about a user by tapping on their profile image to access their user profile. Always use your own discretion.
  • How do I get my item back?
    • Make sure to agree a time and a date for the return of the item via messaging in the app, before you lend it out. 
  • What if I don’t get my item back?
    • Please give the borrower time to respond but if they don’t, you can get in touch with us by clicking “need more help” on this page.
    • If the borrower deletes their account, or does not respond to Olio, then we recommend you report a theft to the police. We will provide the police with any information they require. 
    • Please only lend low value, non-sentimental items.
  • What if my item is returned broken/with missing parts/in poor condition?
    • You can request that the borrower fixes or replaces the item, at their cost.
  • Do I have to provide a user manual?
  • If someone gets hurt using my item, whose fault is it?
    • Please check items are safe to use and encourage the borrower to do the same.
    • Ultimately the use of any item is done at the risk of the borrower. 
  • Should I remove access to my online accounts when lending devices?
    • Yes! Please remember that you may be signed into accounts on devices that you lend and do not share sensitive passwords to access devices

👱🏼‍♀️ For the borrower


  • How can I Borrow something?
    • Tap ‘Borrow’ at the top of the Home page and then request any items you would like to borrow. 
  • Will the lender provide a user manual?
  • Why does it say I don’t meet the requirements?
    • Lenders can choose to only lend to people who meet the following requirements: users who have a 4*+ rating, users who have shared with 5+ Olioers, users who live within 2km, 
  • Do I need to give a deposit?
    • If the lender asks for a cash deposit then you should expect to give a deposit. We would recommend confirming the deposit amount in the messaging section of the app.
  • How do I pay my deposit?
    • Deposits can be paid in cash and is a private agreement between yourself and the lender. Olio is not responsible for any issues relating to deposits.
  • What if I don’t get my deposit back?
    • Olio is not responsible for any issues relating to deposits. If you have any problems you can get in touch with us by clicking “need more help” on this page and we will try to resolve any dispute.
  • How much is reasonable for a deposit?
    • If a deposit is requested, the amount will likely vary according to the value and condition of the item. We would advise you to avoid an item where you are not comfortable with the deposit amount.
  • What if the item was broken when I picked it up?
    • Take pictures as soon as you receive the item and refer to pictures of the item on the app.
  • What if the lender is asking for an unreasonable replacement cost?
    • Olio is not responsible for any issues surrounding a replacement fee. If you encounter a replacement issue you can get in touch with us by clicking “need more help” on this page and we will try to resolve any dispute.
  • How do I know the item I'm borrowing is safe to use? 
    • It’s your responsibility to ask all questions necessary to make sure you’re comfortable using the item you’re borrowing. Please make sure you check items are safe to use and always read a user manual first.
  • What if I injure myself using something that I borrow?
    • All borrowing is done at the risk of the borrower, and is a private agreement between the lender and the borrower. If you sustain an injury as a result of borrowing something, please follow up directly with the lender. 
    • If the lender has been wilfully negligent please contact us so we can suspend/ban the user from Olio.
  • Have the items been tested?
    • Not all items will have been tested. It’s your responsibility to ask all questions necessary to make sure you’re comfortable using the item you’re borrowing.
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