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Rent out equipment
Rent out tools, cameras or other equipment you already own through a rental platform or local groups. Start small, check the platform’s current protection and fees, and do not assume every item will be covered or rented.
Open the interactive guide (checklist, video, read-aloud) →In plain words
- You can rent out tools or equipment you already own.
- Choose items that are safe, useful and in good condition.
- Agree when the item will be collected and returned.
- Take photos before and after each rental.
- Keep records of money, costs and repairs.
- Bookings are not guaranteed, and items can be damaged.
Who it suits
Adults with useful equipment in good condition, some secure storage and time to arrange handovers. It suits people willing to check items carefully, agree clear rental terms and deal with occasional damage or late returns.
People may pay to borrow equipment for a short job or event instead of buying it. Renting out useful items you already own can make use of equipment that would otherwise sit unused, but local demand varies.
Step by step
- Choose a few useful items you already own. Start with equipment in good condition, such as a drill, ladder or lawnmower. Avoid buying anything until you have evidence that people nearby want to rent it. About 30–60 minutes.
- Check and record each item’s condition. Clean and test the item, and note any existing marks or faults. Check that lending it will not disrupt your own use. About 15–30 minutes per item.
- Check local prices and set clear rental terms. Compare similar local listings and decide the daily price, collection window and return time. An Irish guide suggests daily rates of €10–€50, but treat this as a guide, not a guaranteed market rate CashCow.ie. About 30–60 minutes.
- Choose where to list your equipment. Hygglo is the UK platform; it does not list Ireland among the countries it operates in. Irish owners could consider local groups, but check their terms and protections Hygglo CashCow.ie. About 20–40 minutes.
- Make an accurate listing with clear photos. Photograph the item in good light and describe what is included, how it works and any limits on use. Be honest about marks, faults and which accessories are supplied. About 30–60 minutes.
- Confirm booking and handover details in writing. Before accepting, confirm dates, collection and return arrangements, the renter’s contact details and how payment will be handled. Keep the messages together with the booking record. About 10–20 minutes per booking.
- Agree any deposit and document the handover. Agree a deposit where appropriate, and take photos or notes showing the item’s condition before and after the rental. The Irish guide recommends deposits and checking items before and after rental CashCow.ie. About 10–20 minutes per handover.
- Check fees, protection terms and exclusions. Read the current terms for your specific item before accepting a booking. Hygglo lists general insurance cover of £3,000 and Film & Photo cover of £10,000, but those figures do not confirm that a particular claim will be covered Hygglo. About 30–60 minutes before your first listing.
- Track income, costs, repairs and rental dates. Keep a record of payments, platform fees, deposits, repairs and dates. Review whether the money earned is worth the time and wear on the item. About 10–15 minutes each week.
Your first 15 minutes
Pick one useful item you already own, check its condition and local demand, then draft a listing with clear photos, collection arrangements and rental terms.
The money
Compare similar local listings, then account for your item’s condition, replacement value, wear, cleaning time and any platform charges. Set a clear daily price and review it after a few weeks; do not treat example rates as guaranteed demand.
Example only: In Ireland, suppose an item rents for two days at €20 a day, within the guide’s suggested €10–€50 daily range: €40 income minus €5 assumed cleaning and maintenance costs = €35 before tax <a href="https://www.cashcow.ie/cashcow/ideas/rent-tools-equipment" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CashCow.ie</a>. In the UK, suppose an item rents for two days at an assumed £15 a day: £30 income minus a 20% Hygglo lender commission (£6) and £5 assumed maintenance costs = £19 before tax. The UK daily price and maintenance cost are examples only, not market rates <a href="https://hygglo.com/uk/fatllama" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hygglo</a>.
The rules
You can usually rent out equipment in the UK and Ireland. Check tax rules, platform terms, safe use and any rules that apply to you. There is no confirmed statutory minimum age for renting equipment. Check the platform’s age terms and get advice if you’re unsure.
UK and Northern Ireland
- Trading income and tax. The first £1,000 a year of trading income is covered by the UK trading allowance. If your income is over that amount, tell HMRC. The allowance is based on gross income before expenses GOV.UK Tax Help for Hustles.
- Self Assessment. If you need to register for Self Assessment, do it by 5 October after the end of the tax year in which you started to need to file GOV.UK.
- VAT. You must register for VAT if your taxable turnover goes over £90,000. If you’re unsure how the threshold applies to your activity, check with HMRC Business.gov.uk.
- Platform fees and protection. Before you list an item, check the platform’s current fees, protection levels and exclusions. Hygglo lists different cover levels by category. Check the small print for your item and situation Hygglo.
- Customer information. Use the ICO self-assessment tool to check whether you need to pay a data protection fee. The wholesale and retail guidance does not give a general rule for every sole trader. You’re likely to be exempt if you keep customer details only for your own accounts and transaction records. This does not apply to information you process from, or get from, credit reference agencies ICO.
- Insurance and rental risks. Check whether your insurance covers business rentals and the risks of loss, damage or repair costs. Inspect the item before and after each rental, and record its condition. Platform protection has terms and limits The Sun Hygglo.
- Advertising and age terms. If you publish paid or affiliate promotions, label them clearly, for example ‘Ad’ ASA. The ICO gives advertising or marketing another person’s business, goods or services as an example of activity that requires a data protection fee. Use its self-assessment tool to check your situation ICO. Check the platform’s age terms. There is no confirmed separate statutory minimum age for this activity.
Ireland
- Income tax reporting. If you’re a PAYE worker, register for self-assessment using Form 11 if your taxable non-PAYE income is over €5,000 or your gross non-PAYE income is over €30,000. Below those limits, declare the income on Form 12 through myAccount Revenue.
- Business name. If you trade under a name other than your own, register the business name with the CRO. Online registration costs €20 CRO.
- VAT. Revenue’s VAT thresholds are €42,500 for services and €85,000 for goods. Equipment rental may need to be classified. Check with Revenue to find out which threshold applies to your activity Revenue.
- Where to list. Hygglo’s country list does not include Ireland. You could try local groups, but their fees and protections are not set out here. Check the group’s terms and agree the details clearly Hygglo CashCow.ie.
- Insurance and rental risks. Check whether your insurance covers rentals and the risks of loss, damage or liability. Demand may be limited, and liability is a risk. Rental-specific consumer rules are not set out here CashCow.ie.
- Advertising and age terms. If you publish paid or affiliate promotions, label commercial content, for example with ‘#Ad’ CCPC. Check the platform’s age terms. There is no confirmed separate statutory minimum age for renting equipment.
Checked against official sources: 22 October 2026. Not yet reviewed by a qualified tax or legal adviser. General guidance, not legal advice. Check the official link beside each point before you start.
Common mistakes
- Buying equipment before checking whether local people want to rent it.
- Assuming platform protection covers every item, damage or situation.
- Not recording existing marks, faults and accessories before handover.
- Leaving collection, return times, payment or deposit arrangements unclear.
- Forgetting to include platform fees, repairs, cleaning and wear when judging whether rentals are worthwhile.
AI-made demonstration: this module has a 20-second street-chat video in the interactive guide. The presenter and the people in it are computer-generated, not real people.