One rental, start to finish
What you do as a renter, what you do as an owner, what happens on which day — and what it costs. Everything here applies as written in the terms.
Renting in four steps
Devices nearbyFind a device nearby
Search by device or category and see what’s free right now — with distance, price and ratings.
Request & secure the payment
Send your request and save your card. It is only charged once the contract is concluded — straight into the owner's account, never cash at the door. If the owner declines, nothing happens.
Handover with a code
You meet in the neighbourhood. A code starts the rental, a few photos record the condition.
Return & rate
Return with a code — then you rate each other. That’s how the neighbourhood stays reliable.
Lending in four steps
More about lendingPick a model
Choose your device from the catalogue. Value, accessories and a price range are already filled in.
Details & price
Condition, accessories and your daily rate. You set what you want to receive per day — the Leihnachbar commission goes on top for the renter.
Receive requests
Neighbours send you a request. You say yes — or decline. You stay in control.
Hand over & earn
You meet in person. The rent is already in your Stripe account by then; Stripe pays it out to you on its schedule.
What happens when
The course of a booking, with the deadlines that apply to both sides.
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Day 0
Request with a card
You pick the days, write to the owner and save your card. Nothing is charged yet.
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within 24 hours
The owner confirms — or not
With the confirmation, Leihnachbar concludes the rental contract on the owner's behalf. If there is no answer, the request expires and your card is untouched.
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48 hours before the start
The card is charged
Directly to the owner's Stripe account. Until then you can cancel for free; after that you owe 25 percent of the rent. If the rental starts sooner, the charge happens with the confirmation.
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Rental start
Handover with a code and photos
You meet at the agreed time — you have known the exact address since the confirmation. Any agreed deposit is reserved now. The owner shows a one-time code, a few photos record the condition.
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Rental end
Return
In person again, with photos again. If all is well, the deposit is released immediately. After a 24-hour grace period, every further day started costs the daily rate.
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up to 5 days after a report
If something is broken
The owner reports the damage with photos and an amount. You can respond within five calendar days. If you accept, it is captured from the deposit; otherwise Leihnachbar reviews the evidence.
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afterwards
You review each other
Both sides, mutually. Good reviews lower the surcharge on the next rentals — for the owner and for you.
What it costs
The owner states what they want to receive per day; the renter pays that amount plus the surcharge that covers the commission and Stripe's fee. An example with a 20,00 € payout for one day:
- You want to receive
- 20,00 €
- Leihnachbar commission
- 4,37 €
- Expected Stripe fee (EU card)
- 0,63 €
- Renter pays
- 25,00 €
The commission is at least 5,00 € per booking; on small amounts the renter covers the difference and your amount is untouched. Your first rental and good ratings lower your rate. If Stripe's fee is higher than expected (cards from outside the EU), Leihnachbar makes up the difference from its commission.
The four questions before a first booking
When is my card charged?
48 hours before the rental starts — until then you can cancel for free. If the rental starts within 48 hours, the card is charged as soon as the contract is concluded.
What happens if I cancel?
As long as the rental contract has not been concluded, you can withdraw your request free of charge at any time. After that: cancelling is free up to 48 hours before the rental starts — a charge not yet made is not made, one already made is refunded in full. Less than 48 hours before the start you owe 25 per cent of the rental price; the remaining 75 per cent is refunded, the platform fee in the same proportion. If the owner cancels, everything is refunded. A deposit already reserved is released.
How does the handover work?
In person, at a time agreed in the chat, confirmed with a one-time code the owner shows the renter. The handover can only be confirmed once the rent is paid and any agreed deposit is reserved. The condition is documented with photos and the message thread serves as the record. The exact address only becomes visible after the contract is concluded, with the agreed appointment.
What happens if something breaks?
The owner reports the damage with photos and an amount when taking the device back. The renter can respond and submit their own evidence within five calendar days (at least three business days); silence does not count as acceptance. If they accept, the amount is captured from the reserved deposit. Otherwise Leihnachbar reviews the documented evidence. Until then the deposit stays reserved; only what the review establishes is captured, the rest is released. If no deposit was agreed or reserved, the report is only recorded; claims then — like anything beyond the deposit — remain between renter and owner.
Trust that isn’t left to chance.
Every rental follows clear rules — payment through the platform, ID verification from €100, and photos at handover and return.
Ready?
Find a device in your neighbourhood — or list one that is just sitting at your place.