How Lodomi works

The big idea

Lodomi is a neighbourhood lending library. Instead of everyone buying a drill, a tent, or a pressure washer they'll use once or twice, you list what you own and borrow what you need from people close by.

You can be a borrower, a lender, or both — the process below works the same way either side you're on.

The rental process, end to end

Every rental follows the same simple path. It can start two ways:

• You find something to borrow. Browse what neighbours have listed, open an item, and request it for the dates you need.
• You post what you're looking for. Can't find it? Post an "in search of" request, and nearby owners can offer you a match.

From there, both paths meet and move through the same five stages:

• Request. As the borrower, you ask to borrow for your chosen dates. Your request goes to the owner.
• Owner review. The owner looks it over and can adjust the details — dates, price, or deposit. While it's with the owner, the request is locked so terms don't shift under either of you.
• Your approval. The owner sends their offer back with the final terms and a clear cost breakdown. Nothing is settled until you agree.
• Agreement in place. Once you both agree, the deal is set — now you arrange the hand-off, where and when to meet.
• Complete. After the item comes back, the rental is marked complete, and you can both leave feedback.

Throughout, a notification on the site points you to anything that needs your attention, and we'll email you if you've stepped away.

Staying private: how names work

Lodomi shows names only when they're actually needed to complete an exchange — not a moment sooner.

• You're anonymous while you browse and search. When you post an "in search of" request, people can offer matching items without seeing your name.
• When you offer an item to a searcher, they don't see your name yet either.
• Names are shared only when a deal becomes real — the owner's name is shared with the borrower when the owner approves and sends an offer, and the two of you are introduced as you move forward.
• Quick yes/no questions can't contain phone numbers or email addresses, so contact details aren't handed over before you've agreed.

Fees & money

Lodomi keeps the money side simple and out in the open:

• Rental price is set by the owner when they list the item.
• Service fee — 10%. Lodomi adds a single service fee of 10% of the rental price, paid by the borrower. That's the only fee Lodomi charges.
• Deposit. Some items ask for a refundable deposit (more on that just below).

You see every line spelled out in the cost summary before you agree — no surprises:

Example figures. The exact amounts always appear on your agreement.

Talking it through

There are two ways to communicate about a rental, each suited to a different moment:

• Yes / no questions. While a request is under review, the borrower can ask the owner a quick, structured question — "Does it come with the case?" — and the owner answers yes or no. Fast, low-pressure, and kept free of phone numbers and emails.
• Full messages. For anything that needs more than a yes or no, there's free-form messaging on the transaction — the fuller back-and-forth once things are moving.

Either way, you'll see a notification on the site when there's something waiting for you, and we'll email you if you've been away.

Listing an item to lend

Listing takes a minute:

• Add up to three photos, a title, and a short description.
• Set your rental price and, if you'd like, a refundable deposit.
• Add roughly where it is, so nearby borrowers can find it. Lodomi handles making it searchable.

Prefer to keep something off the public marketplace? You can keep an item private and offer it only to specific searchers you choose.

Setting your price and deposit

The price and deposit are entirely your call as the owner. Everything below is just an optional suggestion to help you decide — not a rule, and not a valuation. Many owners are happy to list items for free, and you can too.

• Rental price. If you'd like a starting point, some owners use 5–10% of what the item cost new — durable, hard-to-wear items near the low end, less durable ones that wear with use closer to 10%.
• Deposit. For a deposit, a common reference point is about half (50%) of the item's original cost, or the amount of your insurance deductible. Asking for no deposit is fine too.

Whatever you choose, both figures are shown to the borrower up front in the cost summary, before anyone agrees.

Posting an "in search of" request

Can't find what you need? Post an "in search of" request describing the item. Nearby owners can offer you a match — without seeing your name. When an offer looks right, you turn it into a request to borrow, and the rental flow above takes over from there.

Deposits, pickup & return

The deposit is a refundable amount some owners ask for, to cover them if an item comes back lost or damaged. It's set by the owner, shown up front on the agreement, and returned to the borrower once the item is back in good shape.

Pickup. Once the agreement's in place, arrange a time and place to meet. Look the item over together at hand-off so you both agree on its condition.

Return. Bring the item back in the same condition by the agreed date. The owner confirms it's all good and returns the deposit. If a schedule slips, the transaction flags the date so nothing quietly falls through the cracks.

Completing a deal & feedback

After the item's returned, the rental is marked complete. Both people can then leave feedback about how it went. Over time, that feedback builds your reputation on Lodomi and helps neighbours know they can trust each other — the thing that makes a lending community actually work.

Trust & safety

• Meet in a public, well-lit place for the hand-off when you can.
• Inspect the item together at pickup and return, and photograph its condition if it's valuable.
• Keep messages and arrangements on Lodomi until you've both agreed — and never share phone numbers or emails in yes/no questions.
• Something feel off? Use the feedback button to let us know.