The best apps for private landlords

As you know, the role of a private landlord is more significant than just owning properties. You take on a lot of extra roles when you get on the property ladder.

You’ll manage multiple listings, repairs, and tenants which can often be time-consuming. In addition, you’ll need to track the financial costs that come with your property portfolio.

There’s an array of mobile apps which claim to make your responsibilities more straightforward. But it’s an extra hassle to sort through them, so we’ve compiled a list of the most useful for you.

This guide discusses the best apps for private landlords to help in different areas, which include:

• Decorating houses
• Reporting inventory
• Finding tenants
• Maintaining properties
• Hiring services
• Managing finances

Before you rent out properties, you’ll want to turn the houses into tenant-worthy homes. A more appealing property can allow you to charge higher rent fees, because more people will be interested to live there.

One of the best apps for private landlords to improve their properties is Houzz, which provides you with inspiration or advice on renovating and decorating homes.

The app has more than four million photos of rooms to improve your approach towards interior design. It also includes articles on making any plans a reality with DIY instructions available.

You also have access to a community of creative home renovators, so you can post the problems you face and ask others if they have any tips. 

The app also connects you with designers and carpenters, to bring together for your more ambitious builds.

With a portfolio of expertly furnished properties, it’s crucial to keep it that way and retain its value. So, it’s helpful to take regular inventory reports before and after you move tenants into your homes.

The best app for private landlords to help you report the content and condition of your properties, is Kaptur Inventory Pro.

It can offer you features like a pre-populated glossary, which predicts home areas you’ll mention in your report. This function might sound small, but it will save you a lot of time after you inspect each part of the properties.

You can create the reports in the app, including photos and information professionally laid out in one of the many grid templates. The developers also provide workshops and support to ensure you can make the most out of it.

As a private landlord, you know how vital your tenants are. You rely on them for rent payments, and your properties aren’t profitable without them.

Rightmove is a popular property search platform in the UK, and one of the best apps for private landlords. It allows you to create and display your listings so potential tenants can find them.

Of the top four property sites in the UK, 77% of users’ time is spent on Rightmove. 

More potential tenants who browse the app mean you’ll benefit from greater competition. Which means your properties can get snapped up quickly and at a reasonable price.

Another purpose of the app is to build your portfolio. You will have access to many available properties that you can purchase. It also lets you search by maps to find houses near the ones you already own.

A good relationship with your tenants can mean that you avoid disagreements about payments, for example. To maintain that connection, address any concerns they have swiftly.

You can maintain your properties easily if tenants can report repairs at any time. Fixflo allows your occupiers to provide all of the information about their issues through their version of the app. 

If there’s an issue that’s not your responsibility, Fixflo realises that and offers advice for tenants to sort certain problems themselves (e.g. mould).

Fixflo also features an ability for tenants to report in over forty languages. This tool means it’s easier to help tenants if English isn’t their first language. 

The app’s design helps you create a management system for all the work you need to take care of and see each stage of its process. You’ll be able to keep track of everything, from the initial report to hiring a contractor and the resolution.

With many of the responsibilities of your properties at your door, aim to reach service providers that can carry out critical work.

The best app for private landlords to find tradespeople is Checkatrade. It’s a directory of:

• Plumbers
• Electricians
• Roofers
• Gardeners
• Painters
• Locksmith

When you hire someone to work for you, it’s essential to your business that they carry out a quality service and don’t waste your time. 

Checkatrade guaranteed that their tradespeoples’ work will be high quality and offer a twelve-month assurance for most of the services they advertise.

When a tenant alerts you to an issue or you need work on a property before you rent it out, this app will make it easy to find the services you seek.

There can be various costs for you, from real estate agency fees to repairs. But it’s crucial to keep on top of your money to cover these and still profit from your portfolio.

A pioneer in accessible bookkeeping, Countingup is the best app for private landlords to manage their finances. It turns what could be a long and complicated process of financial admin into a seamless experience.

It’s more than an app. It’s a business account with built-in accounting software, which means that you can monitor and manage spending across your entire business.

With features like expense categorisation, you can sort your costs to see which areas require the most money. That can help you pinpoint the costs of individual properties to maintain.

Another critical feature it offers is cash flow insights. Without the money available to finish renovations on a property, it can add more time to the letting process.

Countingup updates you on the money that comes in and out of your business, so you can make informed decisions before taking on new projects.

You can manage your properties and your finance, to help you climb the ladder and build a portfolio to be proud of. The app even offers a three-month free trial so you can see the difference for yourself.

Get started for free.

For more tips for private landlords, see:

• Are landlords self-employed?
• Do I need landlord insurance?
• Landlord’s right to access: A guide for independent landlords