Managing Loans

Whether you’re lending or borrowing, CO-OP helps you keep track of where your things are and what you have out on loan.

For lenders

Responding to requests

When someone requests to borrow an item, you’ll receive an email notification. To respond:

  1. Go to Loans → Incoming Requests
  2. Review the request and any message from the borrower
  3. Click Approve or Decline

When approving, you can add a message with pickup details or any instructions for the borrower.

When to decline

It’s okay to decline a request. Common reasons include:

  • The item is already promised to someone else
  • The timing doesn’t work for you
  • You need the item yourself during that period
  • The item needs repair or maintenance

You don’t need to provide a reason, but a brief note can help maintain the relationship.

Tracking lent items

The Loans section shows all items you currently have lent out, including:

  • What item is on loan
  • Who has it
  • When it was borrowed

This helps you remember who has what, especially if you lend frequently.

For borrowers

Viewing your loans

The Loans section shows:

  • Pending requests — Waiting for owner approval
  • Active loans — Items you currently have
  • Past loans — Your borrowing history

Returning items

When you’re ready to return an item:

  1. Coordinate with the owner to arrange the return
  2. After returning the physical item, go to Loans
  3. Find the loan and click Mark as Returned

The owner will be notified and can confirm the return. After 7 days, returns are automatically confirmed if the owner doesn’t respond.

The loan lifecycle

Here’s how a loan progresses through the system:

  1. Requested — Borrower submits a request
  2. Approved or Declined — Owner responds
  3. Active — Item is with the borrower
  4. Returned — Borrower marks the item as returned
  5. Completed — Owner confirms (or auto-confirmed after 7 days)

Communication is key

CO-OP tracks the status of loans, but the actual coordination happens between you and the other person. Good communication makes everything smoother:

  • Agree on pickup/return times that work for both
  • Let the other person know if plans change
  • Be responsive to messages
  • Follow through on commitments