Well, we're not the little people who live under the floorboards!  We are Lynn, Nick and Rob and we have recently become interested in recycling, “grow your own” and environmental issues. We realise that, in the wake of the world’s debt, there has been an awakening of desire in the UK to return to simple, self-sustainable living. More and more of us are embracing the less-is-more attitude and voluntary simplicity by cutting back on spending, looking at money-saving ideas and returning to the values more common in the “Dig for Victory” days of world war two.

In the research undertaken prior to building this website, we discovered that we’re using up the world’s natural resources faster than they can be replaced.  In other words we WILL run out of commodities such as oil one day. We learned that each year we in the UK generate about 100 million tonnes of waste from households, commerce and industry and most of this ends up in landfill. We discovered that all this will eventually affect not only the air we breathe and the food we eat, but also our economy and, as the world’s population increases and the average temperatures rise, we’re all going to have to start making some changes to the way we live.

We’re not staunch political environmentalists. We go abroad for our holidays, we each use a car and we even use the occasional plastic bag. It’s a tough call to make radical changes and we’re realistic about how we live our lives, so it’s not our intention to preach to you about how you should live yours. We do believe though that to sit back and continue with consuming the way we do is going to cause irreparable damage to our beautiful but exhausted planet and will have an adverse effect on possibly ours but, without doubt, our children’s lives.

So whilst the politicians and government organisations wrangle over red tape, policies and cost, we thought we’d make a start on promoting recycling in a slightly different way, enlightening people along the way about what’s actually happening to our world and, at the same time, enabling people to put a little extra money in their pockets.

We hope you will like our thoughtfully designed logo depicting our non-carbon footprint made of leaves and hope you will embrace our ethos.  We don’t claim that we’re going to change the world but we would like to make a bit of difference and we hope you will join us in our quest.

You'll need to register on the site again with your new email address and then let us know the details of both the new and old accounts.  We will then transfer any live adverts you may have to your new registration.

Easily done - simply click here, enter your email address, click on "Recover Password and we'll send you a link to enable you to reset your password.  Please note that we do not have access to your password.

Absolutely. 

• The Borrowers Ltd is registered with the Data Commissioner under the Data Protection Act 1998 ensuring that we will not pass on your details to any third party without your permission and complying with the Act with regard to the safe storage of your personal details.
• Our payment processing page is also fully secure. We use the very reputable Secure Trading Ltd which means that we do not store your credit card details in any form. Once you reach the payment page the URL (or web address) will begin with https://, instead of http:// and you’ll see a small padlock symbol in the corner of your screen. This means that any transactions that take place are encrypted between your browser and the server, giving added protection to your credit card details. For more information about Secure Trading, please visit www.securetrading.com.
• Furthermore, your details are stored on a server based in one of London's most advanced and secure data centres, with daily, weekly and monthly backup cycles to a secure off-site location so in the unlikely event of a hardware failure your data integrity is guaranteed. Your information is protected by some wonderful technology, including (now we’re getting technical) a redundant parallel UPS system, close-control air conditioning, 2 megawatt substation with 11kV feed, a backup diesel generator, fire detection and gas surpression system, 2.5 metre pallisade security fence around the perimeter and a PAC security access system. Not to mention 24/7 recorded CCTV on every rack aisle and all entrances, multiple fibre routes out of the building, multiple 10 gigabit ethernet network connections to London and Cat6 shielded cabling throughout.

If you're using Google Chrome, it could be that you have Adblock enabled, which blocks all advertisements on all web pages.  To view the adverts on The Borrowers website you will need to adjust your Adblock settings accordingly.

If you're using another web browser and can't see the pictures, we'd really like to hear from you so that we can address the problem. Please write to support@theborrowers.co.uk and let us know which browser you use and, if possible, send us a screen shot of what you can see.

The list is really endless.

We don’t recommend you lend out your best china or your treasured diamond bracelet (unless you have some serious insurance!) but if you have items lying around going to waste that someone else could make good use of, then you could rent out almost anything.

We‘ve split the site into four different headings which each have sub-categories as detailed below and we’ve listed a few ideas:

Garden/Land

• Garden Share - This can be a small garden you never use or part of a big garden which you’re willing to share.
• Veg plot/allotment - Maybe you have a vegetable plot in your garden that you don’t use or you could be lucky enough to have your own allotment which you’d like to share with someone else.
• Greenhouse - You may have a whole greenhouse that’s been abandoned or you may wish to share it with your neighbours.
• Land for grazing - You don’t have to be a farmer or have acres of land, just a small field is sufficient for a pony or a few sheep/goats.
• Farmland - For the farmers out there, you can advertise your land for agricultural use.
• Paddocks - This can be with or without stables attached.
• Woodland - There maybe someone out there who wants to grow Christmas trees but can’t afford to buy the land!
• Orchard - Let someone look after your fruit trees and you might even get some free jam!
• Land for local shows, parties, fetes or car boots - Always in demand for these occasions.
• Land for sporting activities - Such as paintballing, equestrian events, quad biking etc.
• Land with shooting rights - Especially if you have an abundance of nuisance game!
• Lakes with fishing rights - For the estimated 3 million anglers in the UK.

Property

• Greenhouse - you may have a whole greenhouse that's been abandoned or you may wish to share yours with a neighbour
• Shed - To let someone keep tools or store equipment, bikes, gardening gear etc.
• Workshop - Perhaps for those who want to take up a hobby but don’t have the space to do it.
• Garage - For storage or to undertake mechanical work.
• Driveway/Parking space - With parking prices at an all-time high, if you live close to an airport, sports stadium or public arena, your driveway could earn you a tidy sum.
• Stable - with an estimated 1 million horses in the UK, there's always a need for stables.
• Barn - To store vehicles, caravans, farm equipment etc or rent it out for a barn dance.
• Rent-a-Room - If you don’t mind sharing your home, you could earn over £4000 a year - tax free - by renting out the spare bedroom.
• Office - With a big increase in the number of people going self employed, if you have spare office space, you could rent it out.
• Caravan/Park Home/Chalet - Does your caravan stand empty for most of the year? Put it to good use by renting it out to those Brits looking for a “staycation”!
• Village Hall/Party Venue - Often needed for wedding receptions, anniversaries, birthdays and children’s events.
• Beach Hut - Few and far between but those who own them could earn an extra income by loaning them out when they’re not in use.

Possessions

• Home and garden - eg. Dining chairs, BBQ, patio furniture, party props, marquee
• Leisure - eg. Kite, Nintendo Wii, Chocolate fountain, camcorder, kareoke machine
• Travel - eg. Suitcase, tent, camping gear, bike rack, roofbox
• Kids Stuff - eg. Cot, pram, bouncy castle, high chair
• Sport - eg. Golf clubs, fishing tackle, boat, windsurfer, bike, canoe
• Hobbies - eg. Saxophone, keyboard, sewing machine, camera
• Horse/Pony Share - eg. A pony that needs a regular rider
• Pets - eg. Puppy cage, fish tank, horse box, saddle and tack
• Clothing/Fashion accessories - eg. Wedding dress, dinner suit, designer handbag, fancy dress costume
• DIY - eg. Roof ladder, chimney brushes, tools, pasting table
• Business - eg Desk, filing cabinet, laptop, printer, safe, projector

Skills and Services Share

• Auto Trades  eg Car Mechanic, Welder, Bodywork Technician
• Business  eg Book-keeper, Administrator, Proof Reader
• Catering and Food  eg Cake Maker, Party Caterer, Private Chef
• Domestic Help  eg Ironing Services, Window Cleaner, House-Keeper
• Eco Services  eg Solar Panel Installer, Renewable Energy Provider
• Fitness and Sport  eg Personal Trainer, Pilates Teacher, Fitness Instructor
• Gardening/Landscaping  eg Tree Surgeon, Garden Maintenance, Garden Design
• Health and Beauty  eg  Beauty Therapist, Hairdresser, Foot Care Expert, Nutritionist
• House and Home  eg  Seamstress, Upholsterer, Interior Designer
• IT Experts  eg Computer Repairs, PC Upgrades, Broadband Set-up 
• Pets  eg  Dog Walker, Pet Grooming, Pet Sitter, Vet
• Professional  eg  Photographer, Lawyer, Boat Delivery, Tax Expert
• Property Services  eg Electrician, Plumber, Plasterer, Decorator, Carpenter
• The Arts  eg Artist, Sculptor, Stained Glass Maker, Musician
• Tuition/Coaching  eg Music Tuition, Sailing Instructor, Maths Teacher
• Weddings/Parties  eg  Wedding Planner, Magician, Entertainer, DJ

We don’t deal with the renting of complete houses – we’ll leave that to the lettings and estate agents as this is quite a formal, in-depth process with lots of legalities.  We also wouldn’t recommend hiring out any dangerous machinery or heavy-duty electrical equipment – you’d really need some insurance and clear guidelines, possibly even training, when renting out such equipment and is probably best left to the professionals.

Here at The Borrowers we like to be completely transparent about pricing and don't hide anything in the small print. Unlike some sites, we don't charge complicated commissions or any additional fees. 

Advertising within the Land/Garden, Property and Possessions categories is completely free.

Advertising with the Skills and Services category is £45 for 12 months, that's less than 13p a day to advertise your small business or any skills you'd like to share.

You'll get:

• A comprehensive listing of your property/belongings advertised for the appropriate time
• Up to 3 photos displayed
• Your own account where you can communicate with potential borrowers without revealing your identity until you're ready to do so
• The use of a range of template Rental Agreements
• Regular news from The Borrowers regarding topical issues such as recycling, the environment, self-sustainability etc.

Remember though, the first 100 adverts placed are free for 6 months advertising and you'll still have access to the above even if you're in the first 100.

You can display up to 3 photos of the item or property by following the simple upload process which we guide you gently through during registration - you don't have to be a computer expert and if you do get stuck, we're here to help.  

You should be the official owner of the photos and, if you're not, you must make sure you have the owner's permission to place them on the website.  The Borrowers Ltd shall not be responsible or liable for any breach of copyright so it is important that you ensure you are not acting unlawfully when uploading advertising material.

This is very easy and incurs no additional fees. All you have to do is log back onto The Borrowers website at any time, go to "My Account" and select any of the options in the "Personal Details" box, make the amendments and press "Save Changes". The only thing you can't change is your User Name and, for security purposes, you'll have to let us know if you change your email address.

Yes, this is easily done and costs nothing to do - just log into "My Account" at any time and select "Edit" next to the relevant advert from your list of ads. This will take you to the original registration page where you can make amendments, change photos around or upload new ones and, if you find a borrower for your rental item, you can even hide the advert for a while.

The Borrowers is not a rental agent and we do not offer an evaluation service. You will therefore need to make a decision on the rental price of your property or belongings. Most people have a general idea but, if you're not sure, you can check to see if there are similar adverts on the website. Try to be realistic and ask yourself how much you would pay.

If you're hiring out an object, you may want to charge a refundable deposit.  You need to be clear about how much that will be and make sure your Borrower knows the terms and conditions of getting it back.  You can include the amount of the deposit in your advert in the "Other information" box and there is some appropriate wording in the template contract for deposits which you can change to suit your personal requirements.

That depends on what you're renting out. You may want to rent out your garden for the year or your driveway by the week, your golf clubs at so much per month or a windsurfer on a daily basis. You will have the option, at the point of registration, to select the appropriate rental period - either by the day, week, month or year.

Over the next 12 months The Borrowers will embark on an intense marketing campaign to ensure that the website has as much exposure as possible and to make sure your advert is seen by 1000's of people in your area. Feel free to spread the word about The Borrowers - let all your friends and family know about us and take part in this new form of recycling in the UK to ease the pressure on our exhausted planet, meet new people and, at the same time, earn a little extra.

We respect your privacy and will safeguard your personal contact details by only displaying your user name and first part of your post code in your advert. If someone wishes to contact you, they must register with The Borrowers and have their own account which will enable you both to communicate via the website. Once you're happy to reveal your phone number or personal email address, then you can do this via your Borrowers account.

This is understandable so please don't be offended. The borrower will get in touch with you first via the website. They may just want more details or they may wish to make an appointment to view your property/belongings. Try to respond as soon as you can - you don't want to lose your potential borrower and it might be a good idea to obtain their name, phone number and (if possible) address first. You can then make sure these are genuine by saying you'll call the person back to arrange a time to meet.

If you're a woman living alone, try and have someone with you at the time of the appointment. You can never be too careful.

How exciting!  You’ll need to make arrangements with your Borrower to view the property or deliver it, post it, or have the item collected and you need to be absolutely clear about what is included in the rental price.  Some people may want to negotiate on the price so be prepared to barter a little.

The vast majority of people are trustworthy and law-abiding but we don’t recommend you hire out your most precious, sentimental valuables and family heirlooms.  However, you can take steps to ensure that your Borrower will look after your property and return it as agreed:

Contract.   You may want your Borrower to sign a rental agreement.  This safeguards both parties but it should be a mutual agreement between each of you.  Anyone advertising on the website will have access to a range of template contracts*. You can use these, without any copyright issues or, if they don't quite suit your needs, you can copy the content and amend accordingly. Don't forget to get two agreements signed so that each party can keep a copy.

Take a deposit.  You may wish to charge a deposit relevant to the current resale value of the item, taking account of the condition of the item and bearing in mind that anything second-hand isn’t worth the full as-new price.  Ideally you should include details of the deposit requirements in your advert and it should be made clear to your Borrower at the outset how and when the deposit will be returned.  If you’re not using a hire contract, you should always give your Borrower a signed and dated receipt for the monies you take from them.

Take photos.  Take lots of photos of the item you're lending out prior to handing it over to your Borrower.  This is a good record of the condition of the item prior to the rental period and will be a good measure of proof of condition if it comes back damaged. 

Mark your property.  It could be worth investing in a UV property marking pen and writing your postcode and house number on the item.

Note the serial number.  If the item has a serial or model number, take a note of it before you hand it over to your Borrower.

Delivery/Collection.  If you can, deliver and collect the item yourself.  That way you'll know for certain the address of your Borrower.

Borrower ID.  If you’re unable to deliver yourself, you may wish to ask for some form of identity or address confirmation, but you should be very careful that you act within the law of the Data Protection Act – you can find out more on the ICO’s website in the Guide to Data Protection.

*NB  The Borrowers Ltd is not responsible or liable for the template contracts or amended template contracts and will not enter into a legal dispute which may arise between parties as a result of the Contracts being issued and signed.

You have three options:

• You can hide your advert at any time and for as long as you wish by logging into your account and selecting “Hide” at the side of the relevant listing. This will keep the details of the ad on your account but will prevent it from being displayed on the website. (Please note you cannot claim a refund for any advert that is “hidden”).
• You can continue to display your ad but you should really add a note in the Additional Information box to indicate that the item is currently being rented out. This will give you the opportunity of being able to book out the item, if applicable, on a future date.
• You can delete your advert from your account but please bear in mind that we do not offer refunds for deleting an ad earlier than the expiry date, unless it’s under exceptional circumstances.

True, for about the same price as a six month advert on The Borrowers website you could place an ad in your local paper. However it would only be published for around 3-5 nights, the details would be limited, you wouldn’t be able to display 3 photos and your market would be restricted to only the local area. 

At the point of registration The Borrowers take a comprehensive list of information about your rental property/item by means of easy-to-use drop-down lists and tick boxes and then lays out these details in a clear concise profile for your potential borrower to peruse. Furthermore your market is vast, available 24/7 and you can change or hide your advert at any time during the advertising period.

The fee you pay covers advertising space on The Borrowers website for the specified number of months from the date you register your details.  We will write to you one week before the ad is due to expire and, unless you renew it, at midnight on the expiry date, your advert will be removed from the website. However we will not delete the listing from your account until one calendar month later, unless we hear from you.

If you wish to advertise beyond the expiry date, you can do so at any time (you don’t have to wait until the final day) by logging into your account, selecting “Extend expiry date” and paying for further advertising.  This will run on consecutively from the original end date so you won’t lose out on any advertising time.

Make sure that either your postcode is correct or you have pin-pointed the position correctly on the map. 

A search by location uses map co-ordinates (latitude and longitude) to find the relevant adverts.  The postcode you enter in the advert registration form is used to generate those co-ordinates and consequently display your ad in a relevant search.  However, if you pinpoint an exact position on the map, then these co-ordinates over-ride those of the postcode and will be used to produce the results of searching by location.  

If you prefer to use the postcode, you can easily cancel the map position by clicking on the map pointer when you go to "Edit" your advert in My Account.

We’re not a lettings agent so we cannot introduce you to your prospective lender. However, if you register with us – free of charge – you can then contact the lender via the website. To safeguard our lenders’ privacy, we do not give out names and full addresses on the adverts but do indicate which region the item is located.

When you make contact, make sure you’re absolutely clear about what is included in the rental price. Your lender may ask you to sign a rental agreement – this is quite normal and safeguards both parties.

Yes, this safeguards both parties but it should be a mutual agreement between each of you.  It will be legally binding so make sure you read it thoroughly and only sign it if you agree to its terms.   

As this is a new website it will take a little while to build up a bank of adverts, which is why we’re offering the first 100 free of charge. We are concentrating first in the Somerset area, spreading next to Devon and Cornwall and then the whole of the South West, although there are plans to expand our coverage to the whole of the UK over the next 12 months by means of an intense marketing campaign.

However, if you have an item or property you’d like to rent out and you live outside the current marketing zone we would be more than happy to accommodate your details on the website free of charge, in an attempt to encourage more people in your area to use the website. If this is the case and the FOC launch offer has expired please get in touch with us and we’ll see what we can do.