My tenant has been great, but sadly (though hardly surprising) is moving back to spain. I am using the Rent Collection service as I liked the idea of not giving out my personal bank details. However, Rent Collection is failing in two regards:
- Although there is the option to give an end date, I have no idea what this is for. a) It doesn’t calculate a final payment (or allow us to enter a mutually agreed final payment) b) it doesn’t stop automated emails to the tenant who is messaging me in a panic because he thinks he is getting in trouble for not paying rent (rent which is NOT due since he is leaving!)
- When I try to disable Rent Collection it then offers to send my bank details to the tenant, negating the whole point of me using the service in the first place. If I put a “fake” payment in, the tenant could probably complain and say that he is due the part month rent back (although bank records would clearly disprove this - but hassle!)
IMO, when you enter a date that the tenancy is ending, you should be prompted for a final balance payment, with a suggested figure pre-populated. (rent * 12 / 365 * days in month left). when you enter a final balance, that is the amount Openrent should be chasing, not the full amount usually due.
It is a great and welcome service, but it is not fit for purpose when a tenancy comes to an end. it has caused me more work, and my tenant undue stress. Openrent’s response so far is that end of tenancy payments are for the Landlord to negotiate. Well, I have, I did, now please leave him alone!
Hopefully this can be improved in a new release, and soon.