Do you want to make money hiring out your household items to other local people, or save money by renting items off others?
Local campaigners are encouraging south Leeds people to sign up to a website that enables regular people to rent out items to others in their community – so that we can all get fuller use of our goods, save money (by sharing items, instead of all buying them – at rates lower than commercial hire operators), and earn money as we go.
Last year saw the launch of a new ‘Save Money and Save the Planet’ campaign, featuring local charity St Luke’s CARES, local councillor Ed Carlisle (Green, Hunslet & Riverside), the LS-TEN skatepark, and a range of local people and organisations. The campaign aims to inspire and support action across LS10 and LS11 which develops local cooperation and reduces waste – as a means for us all to save money, and to create a more planet-friendly community.
For 2023, the campaign will – amongst other things – be locally pushing the ‘Fat Llama’ peer-to-peer rental website (fatllama.com). Users there can list as many items as they wish, hire them out or not whenever suits them, and set the fees as they see fit. Items might include: DIY or gardening tools, sports equipment, specialist clothing, gear for events or holidays, electrical or transport items, kids or baby goods, musical instruments, and more. All users are verified, and all rentals are insured for up to £25,000 in case of problems.
Cllr Ed Carlisle commented:
“This is such a win for everyone. We don’t all need to own everything, stuff takes up space, and it’s costly for us and the planet: it makes so much more sense for us all to share items instead. And although doing so for free is lovely, the Fat Llama site offers loads of safeguards (especially insurance) – and it’s fair for people to make some cash on their stuff. Could we actually start to rethink ownership, and build a more circular economy and cooperative future?”
To sign up, in just 2-3 minutes visit: fatllama.com. Spread the word: the more signed up, the better for everyone.
Fat Llama is a commercial operation, taking a % on all rental transactions; there are not-for-profit alternatives, like streetbank.com, but none are able to offer the same safeguards or usability.
Ultimately, the campaigners are looking to set up a local ‘Library of Things’: get in touch to find out more or to get involved, email: sally@stlukescares.org.uk
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