Free maintenance reporting launched for landlords

Small landlords can now use a free system to log repair reports and retain evidence showing how each case was handled.

Lettie has launched the plan for landlords with up to four properties, a group it says represents around 83% of landlords in England.

Tenants can report problems through WhatsApp at any time, while communications and actions are placed in a single, time-stamped audit trail.

The system also carries out automated triage and produces downloadable maintenance reports.

Repair records matter

Calum Hopkins, the co-founder of Qualisync Ltd, the company behind Lettie, said: “The overwhelming majority of landlords in England own four properties or fewer, but they’re increasingly expected to meet the same standards of record-keeping and accountability as much larger property businesses.

“Most landlords genuinely want to resolve repairs quickly.”

He added: “The challenge isn’t willingness, it’s documentation.

“Maintenance conversations often happen across phone calls, emails, text messages and WhatsApp, making it difficult to demonstrate exactly what happened if questions are raised months later.”

Free plan features

Each interaction through the system is recorded, including when a problem was reported, the information gathered during triage and how the issue was handled.

The free plan includes photographic fault analysis, a web dashboard, a prioritised issue log and automated tenant onboarding.

Landlords also receive certificate tracking, a compliance evidence locker and reports covering individual tenants or properties.

Extra properties can be added from £2.50 per property each month.

Regulation drives records

The launch follows the first Renters’ Rights Act reforms taking effect on 1 May, with further measures due over the coming years.

Among these is the introduction of the Private Rented Sector Database which is expected later this year.

The government has also announced plans for a mandatory PRS Landlord Ombudsman and the future extension of Awaab’s Law to privately rented homes.