Property logbook company Chimni is trialling a new form of Digital Property Logbook aimed at the rental markets.  

The new logbooks include tools to help identify compliance requirements in different council areas and assemble required data and documentation.

Funded by InnovateUK, the trial is taking place in partnership with Birmingham council across a range of rental property types.  

For some HMOs the need to submit detailed information prior to licencing is considered complex, and many councils across the UK have introduced Selective Licencing regimes requiring large volumes of information from landlords before they are allowed to let a property. 

Chimni is working with a group of existing and new landlords who, for the trial, are prompted to set up logbooks with the new lettings module.  

The specification was set up with help from the Lettings Industry Council and includes a digitised and interactive version of the new Propertymark Lettings & Rental Property Information Questionnaire, which auto-completes from logbook records.   

The main focus of the trial is on whether logbooks can streamline and simplify the process of proving compliance. 

“The intention is to provide data and documentation via API into existing Lettings and Tenant management software systems. This is about creating better prepared clients who use logbooks to manage their assets, not competing with agency systems” says Chimni chief executive Nigel Walley.

A second focus is on being able to report compliance across all property types.  

Chimni says the ultimate aim is for all logbook companies to be able to connect, via the National Register, with any local authority to exchange data.  \

However, Walley remains cautious about the trial, saying: “We are not expecting local authorities to mandate logbooks for private landlords – yet. A broader question behind the test is in which circumstances might a council mandate, or at least recommend, the use of digital property logbooks.”