Who are you? David Alexander
What does it say on your business card? Joint Manager Director
What is apropos?
Apropos is a revolutionary new property management solution designed to exceed expectation of both landlord and tenant. www.apropos.app
The service has been designed and built by one of the UK’s largest property management companies with the specific objective of addressing the inherent frustrations of private rental. By combining an innovative approach with the latest technology, apropos is leading the way in delivering a creative vision for the rental market and demonstrating how it can work better.
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/aproposapp
What services does apropos provide?
Apropos has a rich range of functionality that changes the way landlords, tenants and agents experience the renting process.
Apropos landlords have a personalised online dashboard which allows them to monitor all activity on their rental property or portfolio, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; from tracking applications or maintenance items to keeping an eye on their property account or checking up on how viewings are progressing, landlords have full transparency of all transactions.
Meanwhile, the apropos team of property experts take care of everything else; from viewings and applications, lease and inventory preparation, maintenance items, rental collection, everything from start to finish.
It’s great for tenants too. The same innovative approach allows them to manage their entire tenancy online. Viewings can be booked, and applications submitted 24/7 or maintenance items reported and tracked, all from the convenience of their mobile phone.
Apropos landlords can sit back and watch it all as it happens.
Apropos is available in most of the major cities in the UK including London, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Birmingham, Edinburgh and we are adding new territories to our reach every month. Our network of apropos agents across the UK will deliver expert front-line property services in their local area and are a key component of the apropos proposition.
We believe in renting done right.
Why is it important for tenants to have rental payments contribute towards their credit score?
It is extremely important for a tenant to build a good credit history to enable them in future times to be able to access potential mortgage funds, if and when they move to ownership. I would like to see a registry of tenants that builds up over the years highlighting the payment history of rental payments.
What is your greatest achievement in your current role and what made it so special?
I can look back over the last 40 years and feel immensely proud of helping to build a business from scratch that has become the largest in Scotland, and the 21st largest in the UK. More importantly we are not finished yet.
What is the most satisfying part of your job?
The most satisfying part of my job is being able to work with so many amazing people.
What do you see as the biggest challenge facing landlords at the moment?
Landlords are facing many challenges at present, none more so than the increased regulation and increased tax burdens. Despite the current factors, property is still in my opinion a fantastic investment.
What is your property prediction for the remainder of 2020?
Although there have been considerable changes to the property industry as a result of the pandemic, many of these changes will now be here to stay.
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Working from home: WFH has, and will continue to become, the ‘new normal’, and this will have a major impact on those working in the industry, but also for those seeking to rent or purchase a new property.
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Virtual viewings: during lockdown, virtual viewings are undoubtedly the biggest change the rental property market has experienced. At apropos, we have seen a substantial number of tenants renting properties that they have viewed on a virtual tour, going through the whole process without stepping foot on the property, and that will remain.
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Switch to longer term rentals: as a result of the pandemic, many sporting and cultural events have been cancelled or postponed, it will be a long time before mass gatherings are able to take place again. At apropos, we have found that this is having a significant impact on the number of landlords switching from short-term holiday lets to long-term rentals.