Former accountant launches new rental platform that will help people and help save the planet

Would-be cyclist Selina Kirkham felt frustrated when she wanted get out and about in lockdown and couldn’t find a bike to hire.

But the lack of opportunity sparked an idea for an online rental community that the former accountant is set to officially launch next month.

With RentAbout.com people will be able to borrow – and hire out – anything from tents to tools, and hobby equipment to household goods and electronic items, at a fraction of the sum it would cost to buy.

“It means people can share things with others in their local community and generate an income from items they hardly use,” says Selina.

And she smiles: “They can help to save the planet … one rental at a time!”

Selina, 42, from Stockton Heath in Warrington, came up with the idea around four years ago, and has spent the time since learning the skills and creating the platform to make it a reality.

Last year she even gave up a successful career to pursue RentAbout full time and ensure that when it finally got off the ground it was easy to use and certain to succeed.

She explains: “It all started during Covid when there were lots of things we couldn’t get in shops or online.

“Everyone wanted to be out and about in the fresh air, and I thought it would be nice to go out cycling. With the shops shut I thought I’d try and hire one – but the nearest place I could find was miles away and very expensive!”

Selina goes on: “I had co-founded a company call Totus Environmental Ltd., and we do waste to energy recycling and industrial cleaning, and so my background was seeing millions of tons of waste being redirected from landfill to places where they could be re-used; and this felt like a step up the chain.

“We have all these items in our homes that we hardly use, and then we bin.

“Why not utilise them fully? It’s much better for the environment and it means that not everyone needs to own everything. Sometimes you just need that really tall set of ladders, but you shouldn’t have to buy them to use only once a year.

“It makes more sense to have a community where you can share things and fully utilise them, so we’re not ending up in a position where we’re manufacturing things for everybody before throwing them away.”

And she adds: “You don’t have to have everything, and things cluttering up the garage.”

Selina sought help and mentorship from Sci-Tech Daresbury, an innovation hub which supports new business ideas and training, and even went back to university to learn new skills needed to build and understand the platform she wanted to create and grow.

RentAbout will launch early in February and is easy to use, whether you want to hire an object or equipment, or you’re willing to lend something out for a fee.

Those with items they are willing to offer for hire can sign up and create an account, then list them with basic details and images on the website. They can create their own price pricing plan dependant on the time period of the rental, whether it’s a day, a week, or a month.

Similarly, anyone wanting to rent an item can create an account, find it on the website and get in touch with the ‘host’ before arranging to collect and use it, and then return it.

RentAbout has adopted an insurance scheme with a large and trusted company to make sure items are protected, and only users who are verified will be able to book an item through the platform.

“One of the big things that makes me excited is that as well as helping to fulfil a need, it’s part of the circular and sustainable economy. We champion a circular way of living by keeping items in use longer and reducing waste.

“We ensure seamless access to a wide range of rental items, making life simpler; and we strengthen local ties by building a supportive circle of people and businesses. The idea is that not only do you re-use things, but it moves towards a rentable market – so people may even end up renting washing machines, and manufacturers will build them to last!

“We can’t continue to live as we are. 

“This seems like a win-win for everyone; for local people who need things to use, and local people who want to earn money. It helps the local economy and the environment by reducing waste.”

RentAbout will initially be launched in Stockton Heath before being spread throughout Merseyside and the whole of the North West.

“It’s really fulfilling.”

Did Selina ever get that bike? “I ended up ordering one online that came about six months later,” she grins.

“I just wish that something like this had been around at the time.”

You can find out more about RentAbout.com here.

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