A maintenance reporting service is being offered free to landlords with up to four properties.

PropTech platform Lettie allows tenants to report repairs via the WhatsApp messaging service.

Requests and responses are automatically recorded on a time-stamped audit trail.

The service also includes photographic fault analysis, a web dashboard and priority issues log, automated tenant onboarding, certificate tracking and the collation of compliance evidence.

Tenants file photos of apparent problems which are analysed, prompting guides for them to conduct initial checks for common maintenance problems. 

Bigger problems  can be escalated, with a structured summary and complete communication history provided.

Lettie says some 83% of landlords have fewer than four properties so would qualify for the free service.

A spokesperson comments: “The overwhelming majority of landlords in England own four properties or fewer, but they’re increasingly expected to meet the same standards of record-keeping and accountability as much larger property businesses.

“We wanted to remove cost as a barrier because good maintenance reporting and record-keeping shouldn’t only be available to landlords who can afford expensive property management software.

“Software cannot make a property safe or carry out a repair. 

“What it can do is ensure a report isn’t lost, the right questions are asked promptly and there is a reliable record for the landlord, tenant or anyone later reviewing how an issue was managed.”

Additional properties beyond four can be added from £2.50 per property per month.