Did you know using a tenant portal can be one of the best ways to improve tenant retention and lower tenant turnover? Tenant portals make it easier for landlords and tenants to access each other. They also make tracking maintenance requests, rent payments, and records far quicker and more accurate.
So, do you want to know how to get a tenant portal and work with it? Learn more about using a tenant portal in this brief guide.
What Is a Tenant Portal?
Put simply, a tenant portal is an online interface a landlord and a tenant can use to facilitate their reciprocal obligations. They facilitate rent payments, maintenance requests, and other communications or tasks incidental to the leasing relationship. Many tenant portals also have additional features that can help store documents, provide analytics data, and more.
Key Features a Tenant Portal Should Have
Differentiating essential features from optional extras can be tricky when shopping for rental management software. In our experience, the four non-negotiable features are:
- Payment integrations for rent collection
- A way to lodge maintenance requests (either through a ticket system or a chat function)
- A chat or messaging function
- User-friendliness
Many of these property management tools also include a document management suite. This can be useful but can also be easily replicated with a free mobile scanner app and Google Drive. Using Drive or another cloud-based filing system might suit some landlords better while working out to be cheaper.
The Main Ways to Get a Tenant Portal
The two most common ways landlords get tenant portals are:
- From buying one directly from the supplier's website
- From having one set up for them by a property manager or management company
We strongly recommend the latter option for most landlords. When a property manager sets a portal up for you, you don't have to go through the hassle of teaching yourself how it works. The property manager will show tenants how the portal works and provide supplementary tenant resources.
Benefits of Using a Tenant Portal
Two fundamental tenant portal benefits are that they streamline landlord and tenant relationships and that (as a result) they improve tenant relations. These are key benefits for landlords looking to run an efficient business with tenant retention strategies included.
Tenant portals help make rent collection and rent enforcement easier. They also provide a centralized record of maintenance requests and corresponding repair jobs. This makes accounting for maintenance expenses more manageable for analytics and tax purposes.
Get Tech-Driven Solutions for Your Rental Business
The humble tenant portal balances modern technological advances with the personal interaction that creates good landlord-tenant relations. However, since there are so many options available, you'll want to choose the right one for you.
The best tenant portals do the basics right. This includes facilitating payments, maintenance, and communication. These features are essential to getting all the available benefits from your tenant portal.
Stewardship Management & Realty provides an intuitive online portal for owners and tenants. Our full range of services also covers accounting, marketing, tenant screening, and so much more! Contact us today to learn about how our tenant portal works or any of our other innovative services.
