At Olio, we’re all about helping people get what they need without creating unnecessary waste. Because let’s be honest – most of us own things that sit unused for months, sometimes years, taking up space and quietly gathering dust.
In fact, UK households are housing £30bn of useless purchases. In a cost of living crisis, and in homes where space is tight, especially in London, that just doesn’t make sense.
That’s why, on Olio, you can borrow items for free from your neighbours – whether it’s a ladder for some home maintenance or a lawnmower for the weekend. It’s one of the simplest ways to make use of what’s already around us.
However, your neighbours won’t always have exactly what you need, exactly when you need it. That’s why we’re really excited to introduce a new partner who shares our belief that sharing more (and buying less) is one of the simplest ways to live better.
Say hello to WhyBuy, London’s leading product rental service, now available directly through the Olio app.
A smarter way to access the things you need
WhyBuy is built on a simple idea – you don’t need to own everything to enjoy it. Many of the things we buy are only needed occasionally: a carpet cleaner for a deep clean, extra chairs for a party, or tools for a weekend DIY job.
Instead of buying new, WhyBuy lets you rent high-quality products for exactly as long as you need them. No long-term commitment, no storage worries, no clutter building up at home – just easy access, when it makes sense.
This kind of access-over-ownership approach sits at the heart of the circular economy. Ellen MacArthur Foundation highlights that keeping products in use for longer is one of the most effective ways to reduce waste and lower the environmental impact of everyday consumption.
The European Environment Agency also points to reuse and rental models as key ways to cut demand for new production – meaning fewer raw materials, less energy used and less waste heading to landfill.
What can you rent with WhyBuy?
WhyBuy has thousands of professionally managed, ready-to-use products available across London, including:
🧼 Home and cleaning – from Rug Doctors and cleaning equipment to office essentials
🍨 Kitchen and entertaining – glassware, tableware, kitchen appliances and catering kit
Garden, DIY and outdoor – gazebos, fire pits, gardening tools, fitness equipment and more
🎉 Events and parties – chairs, tables, games and audio-visual tech
You’re not renting someone else’s spare items. Everything is cleaned, checked and maintained by WhyBuy’s team, with all the extras included.
They also offer handy bundles for things like dinner parties, kids’ birthdays, DIY days or spring cleans, making it even easier to get everything you need in one go.
How it works
Using WhyBuy through Olio is as simple as it gets:
1️⃣ Browse WhyBuy products via the carousel on the Olio app home screen
2️⃣ Choose your items and book a 2-hour delivery slot anywhere in London
3️⃣ Enjoy your rental, then pack it up ready for collection when you’re done
Renting instead of buying helps reduce demand for new products, which means fewer raw materials, less energy used and less waste heading to landfill. It also saves you money, time and space, while still giving you access to the things you need, when you need them.
You can now find WhyBuy directly on the Olio app home screen if you’re in London. Have a browse, rent what you need, and see how good it feels to buy less and live more! 🙌