What features to look for in a tenant experience app

A tenant experience app can be a game-changer.

By providing a seamless, integrated platform for communication, maintenance, booking, and reporting, these apps can transform the tenant experience from ordinary, to exceptional.

Here, we explore the essential tenant experience app features to look for in a tenant experience app.

Maintenance Ticketing

A robust maintenance ticketing system is critical for ensuring timely and effective issue resolution. Whichever tenant experience app you go for, make sure it has a ticketing module that simplifies the maintenance process.

Rather than relying on informal channels like WhatsApp and email, tenants and managers should be able to report issues directly within a single platform. Consolidated information streamlines communication and ensures that all parties are on the same page.

For example, with Chainels, the Issue Reporting module enables internal comments. That means community managers, maintenance workers, and service providers can communicate within the Issue Reporting module without the reporter seeing. Teams can instead focus on resolving the issue, without having to search through multiple messages and emails.

Moreover, tickets can be categorised by status—In Progress, Resolved, or Closed—providing a clear overview of tasks and their progress.



Fuzer by Amvest’s processes improved after adopting Chainels. It uses the platform’s Issue Reporting dashboard to speed up the process and improve operations. Most importantly, it gives managers on all levels clear oversight of an issue’s status.

“We have a better picture of how processes evolve.” says Karin van der Ven, Director at Fuzer.  Until we started using Chainels, we had no insight into that. Now we can work together with our property managers to improve the living experience”

“Now a tenant can simply ask a community manager about the status of a particular issue and the community manager looks it up in the app. Communication has improved around complaints and repair requests.”

By enhancing the problem-solving process, a tenant experience app can not only improve operational transparency but also positively impact tenant retention.

Make sure you choose a tenant experience app that can also monitor response and resolution rates and helps identify areas for improvement and optimization. 

Request Forms

Streamlined approval processes are vital for meeting tenant needs. Pick a platform that allows property managers to build custom forms tailored to various approval requests, such as access to loading bays, parking spaces, or communal areas.

A good tenant experience app should empower managers to send approval requests to all relevant stakeholders simultaneously, speeding up the process and reducing bottlenecks.

 

Chainels’ Request Forms module does exactly this, and provides detailed data on request submissions, including the requestor, creation date, and status, allowing for efficient tracking and management.

Stakeholders can comment on requests for additional information, ensuring clarity and efficiency throughout the process. 

Timeline & Newsfeed

Keeping tenants informed and engaged is crucial for positive experiences, so whichever tenant experience platform you land on, make sure its communication features are up to scratch.

For example, Chainels allows for smart targeted communication. For example, Chainels enables precise and targeted communication. Property managers can send messages to specific individuals based on criteria such as location, tenant type, event participation, and group membership. This ensures that the right people receive relevant information without overwhelming others with unnecessary updates.



Managers can choose from various message types, such as updates, events, offers, or surveys, to communicate effectively with tenants.

With these tenant experience app features you can foster collaboration and build stronger communities. Using Chainels, Vienna Airport were able to do exactly that.

“We use Chainels to facilitate collaboration among the diverse set of companies we manage.” says Stefan Kreuzhuber, Digitisation and Marketing Lead. “The app served as a pivotal tool in fostering cooperation, enabling tenants to engage in joint projects and reap mutual benefits.”

Chat

A direct line of communication fosters a sense of community and facilitates quick issue resolution. To enable that, it helps to have a tenant experience app with an instant chat feature.

For example, with Chainels Chat, real-time communication is made easy through group chats, allowing tenants to engage with property managers and each other. This fosters a sense of community and encourages collaboration.

Chainels Chat also safeguards privacy by ensuring that personal phone numbers are not disclosed, promoting professional communication. Document exchange is streamlined, making it convenient for both property managers and tenants to share important documents like rental contracts and invoices.

Tenants have control over their interactions, with the ability to opt-in or opt-out of receiving messages, ensuring that they only receive relevant communications.

Booking

A flexible booking system for amenities and services adds significant value to a tenant experience app.

Chainels' booking module is designed to be comprehensive and user-friendly. Property managers can define bookable items and provide important information for users.

Capacity management is simplified with the ability to set maximum bookings per slot and manage availability.

 

The integration with access control systems ensures that tenants can access amenities during their booked times, enhancing convenience and security.

Property managers can choose to charge for amenities if needed, and the system allows for customization of booking slots, ensuring flexibility and efficiency.

Access Control Integrations

Security is a big deal for tenants, and so it should be. They don't want to constantly worry about whether their shop, apartment or office is properly secured.

That’s why, when shopping around for tenant experience apps, it’s important to find a solution that integrates with access control systems. This way, you can offer tenants the peace of mind needed for a positive tenant experience.

An access control system is a security solution designed to regulate and manage entry to physical spaces within a property.

 

It uses electronic credentials, such as keycards, biometric scans, or PIN codes, to authenticate individuals and grant them appropriate access permissions. Unlike traditional locks, access control systems provide a more sophisticated and flexible approach to access management, empowering property managers with greater control and oversight over who is accessing parts of a property and when.

Timed access can be set up for amenities like shared spaces, loading bays, or meeting rooms, allowing tenants to access these spaces during their booked hours. Lost or stolen keys can be quickly removed from the system and re-issued as needed, enhancing security.

The system also enables automatic user synchronisation, reducing the risk of errors and eliminating the need for manual data entry. This integration ensures that access management is efficient, secure, and user-friendly.

Utilities Reporting

Sustainability is becoming increasingly important in property management, so you need a tenant experience app that integrates with utilities reporting software to help meet these needs.

By collecting environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data through APIs, the platform like Chainels provides tenants with actionable insights into their energy usage. These insights are presented in a user-friendly format, encouraging tenants to act on the data and promote sustainability.

 

This integration not only helps property managers meet regulatory requirements but also supports tenants in their sustainability efforts, enhancing the overall value of the property.

Get the tenant experience app features you need

In conclusion, a tenant experience app with these features can significantly elevate tenant satisfaction and streamline property management.

Chainels stands out as a comprehensive solution that empowers both tenants and property managers, fostering a well-connected, efficient, and enjoyable living or working environment.

By leveraging these capabilities, property managers can enhance tenant retention, optimise operations, and ultimately increase the value of their portfolio.