After over three weeks in lockdown, people are understandably getting rather bored with being stuck inside. Instead of being able to visit the pub or hang out with friends and family, they’re finding other means to stay entertained.
According to rental platform Fat Llama, there has been a significant increase in people renting items for new activities in order to cope with all the time on their hands. As a peer-to-peer platform, Fat Llama allows people to rent items to one another that they normally wouldn’t be using.
So what are people lending at the moment? Unsurprisingly, fitness items have seen a huge surge in demand, particularly when it comes to demand for treadmills, rowing machines and standing bikes. Interest for fitness items has jumped up 943 per cent compared to life pre-lockdown. It also helps that it’s pretty much impossible to buy fitness equipment such as pull-up bars and free weights on Amazon at the moment.
Those looking to try new hobbies are also turning to Fat Llama to rent equipment. Sewing machines have seen a 293 per cent increase since March 23, with musical instrument rentals also up 159 per cent. Budding DJ? You’ll have to move fast to get one online as rental of DJ decks is up 131 per cent and karaoke machines are also up 282 per cent.
DIY tech is also very much in demand: rentals of pressure washers are up 614 per cent and demand for power tools has increased to 422 per cent, whilst people are also improving their WFH office with standing desk rentals.
“It’s fascinating how people are focusing their time and energy during the lockdown, “ said Fat Llama’s CEO Chaz Englander. “It seems many of us are going to emerge from isolation fitter, with newly-found sewing and music skills and cleaner patios.”
The platform, which launched in 2017, guarantees any item up to the value of £25,000 with people using it to rent something small like a camera to even campervans. The idea is that it gives people access to the things they need without them needing to buy one.
It’s tricky being a P2P rental company during coronavirus when necessary contact with other humans is strictly advised against. Car rental company Hiyacar is encouraging its members to lend their cars to NHS staff, while it covers the cost. The company is also offering to deep clean cars before people drive them.
As a result, Fat Llama has updated its instructions for borrowers and lenders when it comes to item hygiene, such as wearing a pair of rubber or disposable gloves, cleaning the item thoroughly before lending it or giving it back, and if necessary, use a disinfectant spray.
Englander added: “We are taking Covid-19 and the social distancing rules incredibly seriously. We urge anyone who rents, or returns, items via Fat Llama to abide by the two-metre rules, take advantage of contactless delivery and use the items safely and responsibly.”
If you do have some spare kit lying around at the moment, using a P2P platform like Fat Llama is one way to make some cash. The average lender earns around £248.50 a month, with some users making up to £12,000.
