Frequently asked questions

Benta is a free local marketplace for Slough and nearby. You can buy and sell new and used items, find or offer local services, rent rooms and shops, buy and sell vehicles, and share community listings such as events and groups.

Yes. Posting ads, browsing and messaging are all free, and Benta doesn’t take a share of any sale, rent or booking.

We’re starting in Slough and nearby, including Slough town centre, Upton, Chalvey, Langley, Cippenham, Britwell, Wexham, Burnham, Colnbrook and Farnham Road. We plan to add more towns over time.

You can browse every listing without an account. You need a free account to post an ad, save favourites or message other members. You must be 18 or over.

Tap Log in / Sign up, choose Sign up, then enter a username, your email address and a password of at least 8 characters. Your username is shown on your ads and messages; your email address isn’t.

Use the search box on the homepage, or pick a category from the menu at the top. On the listings page you can filter by category, area and maximum price, and sort by newest or by price.

Open the listing and tap the message button, such as Message seller or Message landlord. Your conversation stays on Benta, and you’ll get an email when they reply.

Benta doesn’t handle payments. You agree the price and how to pay directly with the other member. Always see the item, room or vehicle before you pay, and use a payment method you can trace.

Yes. Tap the heart on any listing to save it. You’ll find your saved listings under Account › Favourites.

Example listings show how Benta works while the site is new. They aren’t real offers and can’t be messaged.

Tap Post an ad, choose what you’re advertising and a category, then add a title, area, price, description and up to 4 photos. Tap Publish and your ad goes live straight away. Our How it works page has a step-by-step guide.

Items for sale (including books), services, rooms and shops to rent, cars and other vehicles, and community listings such as events, classes, groups, lift sharing and lost and found. Some things can’t be advertised, such as weapons, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, vapes and live animals. See our terms of use for the full list.

30 days. After that it expires and is hidden from search. You can repost it for another 30 days from Account › My ads.

Editing is coming soon. For now, delete the ad from Account › My ads and post it again with the changes.

Go to Account › My ads and tap Delete. This removes the ad and its photos straight away, so people stop messaging you.

Up to 4 real photos of the actual item, place or vehicle. The first photo is your cover. Light edits such as cropping or brightening are fine, but AI-generated or heavily edited images that change how something looks aren’t allowed. We remove hidden location data from photos before they’re uploaded.

Yes. Choose Something for sale, then the Free stuff category. Your ad will show as Free.

Ads that break our posting rules or terms of use may be removed, for example if they’re misleading, ask for payment before a viewing, or are reported as a scam. If you think we got it wrong, contact us within 30 days and a different person will review it.

To keep renting fair and clear, rental ads must show a single monthly rent. Price ranges, “offers over” and invitations to bid aren’t allowed.

No. Room ads can’t exclude people because they receive benefits or have children. The only exception is if you live in the property and are taking a lodger.

View the room in person, check who you’re dealing with, make sure the deposit is within the legal limits, and get the paperwork. Our guide 8 checks before you pay a deposit explains each step.

No. Other members only see your username and what you choose to write in your messages. Only share your contact details when you’re ready to.

A badge appears on Messages, and we also send you an email alert so you don’t miss it.

You need to be logged in to send messages. You also can’t message example listings or your own ads.

See it before you pay, meet somewhere busy, keep the chat on Benta, and be wary of prices that look too good to be true. Read our full safety tips.

Open the listing and tap Report this ad, then choose a reason. Our team reviews reports and removes ads that break our rules.

Stop contact with the person, tell your bank straight away, and report it to Action Fraud. Then let us know so we can remove the ad and protect other members.

Tap Log in, then Forgot your password?, and enter the email on your account. We’ll send you a link to choose a new password.

Go to Account › Profile and choose how you’d like to be described, for example Private seller, Private landlord or Student.

Contact us or email hello@benta.co.uk from the email address on your account and we’ll close it and delete your details, except anything we must keep by law.

We only use it to run your account, show your ads, deliver your messages and keep Benta safe. We don’t sell it or use advertising trackers. Read our privacy policy and cookie policy.

Photos in ads are uploaded by members and should show the real thing. Some illustrations and graphics on Benta itself may be created with AI and are for illustration only.