Frequently asked questions

Lavaa is an app for lending and renting out items. Two modes: lend to friends for free and keep track of who has what with a QR code, or rent out to strangers for money — with a deposit, identity check and automatic payout via Stripe.

Not to lend to friends — you can use the app anonymously or sign in optionally. You only need an account and a one-time Stripe verification if you want to rent out for money and receive payouts.

Lending to friends is free forever. When you rent out, a transparent 5% service fee is deducted from the owner's payout — the renter pays exactly the listed price. No base fee, no subscription, no hidden costs.

There are apps for iOS and Android plus a web version. Your inventory and rentals stay in sync across all your devices.

You simply take a photo. Photo recognition suggests the title and description automatically — from a power drill to your kids' toys. You don't type anything, just confirm.

Pick the person and the item (from your inventory or via a photo). Optionally stick the QR code on it. Whoever borrows it confirms the pickup with a scan — no sign-up needed. You always see who has what and get a return reminder. It's free.

No. The person borrowing from you needs neither the app nor an account. Pickup and return run through a sign-up-free page opened via QR code or link.

The QR code links the physical item to its entry in the app. It's scanned at handover and return — so it's always clear who currently has the item, without anyone having to type anything.

Yes, free forever — including unlimited inventory, QR tracking, photo recognition and return reminders. Lavaa earns nothing in friends mode.

You always see in the app who has which item and for how long, and you get automatic return reminders you can forward to them. There's no financial protection in the free friends mode like there is when renting out — here it's about trust.

On your first rental you set up a Stripe Express account once (name, IBAN, date of birth — required by law for payouts). After that everything is automatic: the rent minus the 5% service fee lands in your account after handover.

Lavaa keeps a 5% service fee, deducted from the owner's payout. The renter pays exactly the listed rental price: on €60 of rent, the owner receives €57.

No. The deposit is only authorised as a hold on the renter's card — no money is taken. Once the item is returned without complaint, the hold is released right away.

Rental periods are capped at six consecutive days. This keeps the deposit hold within its validity window at the bank.

Payment runs securely through Stripe and supports common credit and debit cards. A deposit can only be held via a card.

Yes. As long as the handover hasn't happened, a booking can be cancelled — the rental payment is then refunded and the deposit hold released.

Several safeguards apply when renting out: a deposit held on the renter's card, optionally an identity check via ID and selfie, plus two condition photos each at handover and return. In a dispute, the deposit is kept and a support case is opened with the photos.

For valuable items the owner can require the renter to verify once with an ID document and selfie. Stripe Identity handles it — secure and one-time. Neither the owner nor Lavaa sees your ID data; it lives only with Stripe.

Two condition photos are taken at handover and at return. They document the item's condition and protect both sides: the renter from unjustified damage claims and the owner from actual damage.

If the condition isn't right at return, the owner can keep the deposit in full or in part and open a support case. The condition photos from handover and return serve as evidence.

No. Lavaa is not an insurance. Protection is based on the deposit hold, the optional identity check and the photo documentation. For high-value items we recommend setting an appropriate deposit.

In the EU only: all application instances and databases run in the Frankfurt am Main region (GCP europe-west3). No processing takes place outside the EU.

No. Payment, bank and ID data are processed exclusively by Stripe, a certified payment provider. Lavaa itself does not store this sensitive data.

Yes, rental income can be taxable. Lavaa supports you with transparency: from 25 transactions or €1,800 annual volume we point out the thresholds. From 30 transactions or €2,000 we are required under the German Platform Tax Transparency Act (PStG) to report to the Federal Central Tax Office; payouts are paused until you've provided your tax number.

The PStG requires digital platforms to report their users' income above certain thresholds (30 transactions or €2,000 per year) to the Federal Central Tax Office. Lavaa meets this duty and informs you in good time before a threshold is reached.

Yes. You can delete your account in the app at any time. This removes your user account and the associated data; statutory retention obligations (e.g. for completed payments) remain unaffected.

No. Returns and pickups in friends mode run through a sign-up-free page you open by scanning the QR code. No login required.

Anonymously you can start right away and lend to friends. If you sign in (email or Google), your inventory and rentals are backed up across devices. Renting out for money requires an account plus Stripe verification.

Email us any time at support@lavaa.de. For disputes about a rental, the stored condition photos help us decide quickly and fairly.