What are you using to track Portfolio / income / expenses?

I use smart property manager. It was free when I started off, I now pay as my portfolio has grown. It's good to Keep track of tenancies, income and expenditure, and if you want important dates (gas safe). I own my properties personally so it generates my self assessment tax return ( It tells me what amounts to put in each box). I believe they work with bigger customers, with bespoke features, you have to email them. (They turned on a feature for me to reconcile transactions from my bank statements).

I have recently been looking at Alphaletz software which would appear comprehensive.

Very time consuming, but building my own SQL server back end c# web front end.

While there may be some good tools out there they are not bespoke and probably don't have the many useful features I am planning to include(many things like modeling and including non portfolio income)

Reply to the comment left by No hate plz at 13/01/2023 - 11:29
Arthur online was suggested by a fellow landlord I am looking into it for myself

I’ve been using Lendlord free website for tracking properties, Xero for accounts. Lendlord is improving all the time and lots of very useful options on it

I use Quickbooks to track all income and expenses with direct bank feeds to avoid manual entry.

The NRLA have also just released a portfolio platform to its members so you can manage properties, tenants and keep track of safety checks and certificates etc. I’m using it on the Beta version and so far so good.

Reply to the comment left by Cathie French at 13/01/2023 - 11:59I only have a handful of Buy to Let’s. I have used excel for 5 years but the requirements that potentially will be required in completing quarterly tax returns and the filing of documents and remembering to have annual checks etc. has made me look for a system.
For just over 1 year I have looked at what’s out there
I have decided to use Alphaletz.
Why?
I have watched and connected to many of their zoom presentations in last 12 months and I like the fact that the team is very receptive to new ideas
They have connected with several well known providers in property.
There are landlords themselves
They are not free like some systems.
But they are not expensive either and I believe nothing in life is really free, and why should it be.
They have at least 2 record keeping levels of service.
They have a telephone support which is the way I prefer to solve any issue.
I have just signed up and about to set up my 1 st property this week end.
This coming Tuesday they are running a 3 hour zoom demo which I have signed up to attend, as I want to get as much as I can for my annual fee.

Reply to the comment left by TheBiggerPicture at 13/01/2023 - 12:13I’d worry about developing your own software. Although bespoke is great, for accounting you’ll need approval from HMRC to file your accounts online when this is made compulsory when ‘making tax digital’ is introduced.
I use Sage - have done for years and I have a high level option that sets up DD mandates, takes the rent for me and reconciles my rent direct debits (via Go cardless - a direct debit company). Reconciliation is simple with the bank feed option (which tells you what has gone through your back so you can create transactions simply and easily reconcile that your bank and business accounts are the same. If you don’t already reconcile (not so easy in excel) you may not have ways to check whether you’ve paid someone twice, rent payments are missed and so on.

Reply to the comment left by Cathie French at 13/01/2023 - 11:59Personally I wouldn't use Alphaletz for Accounts information. Its very basic and the reports exportable for your Accountant are not very comprehensive.
I tried Alphaletz, but this was one aspect of the software that did not meet my needs, so I cancelled.

I don't track any of my house costs ( as such ) as they are what they are. However, that might not be what your asking. I have one account that all my income goes into, mortgages go out of. Any costs are put on the bank card associated with that account. I tend to buy stuff from places that give me electronic receipts ( Toolstation/Screwfix / Builders merchants ) then at the end of the year just tally it all up. It's a pain in the arse but usually takes a day. Put it all in excel.