Archives: October 29, 2022

Pay Rent by Credit Card & Earn Rewards With ApnaComplex Rent Pay
Paromita Datta
October 29, 2022

Missing out on Earning Credit Card Rewards when Paying Rent? Here’s Your Chance

Most tenants pay their rent through cash or bank transfers with credit cards rarely seen as an option. When used wisely, credit card payments can have multiple benefits. However, a general reluctance to use credit cards, plus the lack of a relevant digital infrastructure has resulted in tenants failing to leverage the hidden saving potential in their rental transactions. This has been a major gap when it comes to personal and rental industry finances. 

ApnaComplex resolves these challenges with an easy-to-access Rent Pay module. Available on its app, it allows tenants to use their credit card for rent payments. As a common and reliable platform for tenants and landlords, it smoothens the monthly cycle of rent payments. There are other benefits that can be accrued through credit card-based rent payments. 

Why pay rent by credit card?

Credit card usage is still fairly low in India. Most Indians, more inclined towards savings, tend to use them only for bigger purchases. The lack of a suitable infrastructure to support peer-to-peer credit card transactions has further hampered their usage for rent payments. 

Overuse of credit cards can be of concern in tracking purchases. However, regular expenses are relatively easy to track, minimising any chances of running up debt. On the other hand, by avoiding card payments you may actually lose out on the opportunity to increase your earnings.

Earn rewards: Every credit card issuer today offers rewards to cardholders in the form of points, gifts, freebies, discounts, and other deals. Since rents today mean a fairly high spending on a monthly basis, you stand to rack up a substantial number of points or rewards in a short span. You can use these for rewards like air miles, gift vouchers, merchandise, and more.

Cashback: Check if your credit card has a cashback offer. These are generally offered on specific amounts. The cashback is credited directly to your account. This means that you actually stand to get back part of your rent!

Pay when you want: With a typical 45-day credit period, you have the freedom to make the actual payment at a later date. Just make the initial payment via your credit card and pay the bill within the credit period. You can free up your cash for any other urgent requirements or emergencies and pay when you want. 

Pay on time: The 45-day credit period is especially useful when you have an irregular income or when your rent payment falls before your salary cycle. Pay the rent via your card, making your credit card payment whenever you get your salary. 

Using ApnaComplex Rent Pay

ApnaComplex offers a reliable, trustworthy, and safe rental payment gateway where you can pay rent via credit cards. There are also other benefits that you accrue, which include:

Timely reminders: Avoid missing any payment when paying through ApnaComplex Rent Pay. Get timely alerts whenever your payment is due.

Instant receipt: You don’t have to wait for the landlord’s acknowledgment with Rent Pay. Get an instant receipt whenever you make your payment. Now you don’t have to wait for filing your tax returns or HRA benefits. 

Get value-added services: With ApnaComplex you also get access to home services to meet your every need, from painting to cleaning and pest control. 

Complete rental platform

The PropTech platform offers a one-stop solution for tenants with ApnaComplex Rentals. As the largest repository of verified landlords and tenants, it offers a wide network of options in the best housing complexes in your city. With a dedicated Estate Portfolio Manager, you can also avoid dealing with multiple brokers. Other than assured supply, you can benefit from move-out / move-in assistance, lease agreement support, and more. 

If you want to know more about Rent Pay, get in touch with us at support@apnacomeplex. For ApnaComplex Rentals, call us at 0120 71173344 or write to us at rentals@apnacomplex.com.

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ApnaComplex Payment Gateway Convenience at your fingertips
Paromita Datta
October 26, 2022

Why ApnaComplex Payment Gateway is the Collection Solution You were Waiting for

The core function of a society or gated community’s Management Committee (MC) or Resident Welfare Association (RWA) lies in the general upkeep of the premises. Their biggest task under this is the repair and maintenance of infrastructure. Other tasks can include handling communications, ensuring security, managing facilities, and addressing resident complaints and concerns.

The successful execution of these tasks depends on all the residents paying maintenance charges on time, especially given that an MC or RWA has only limited options in raising funds. However, despite its importance, the timely collection of these charges remains one of the biggest hurdles for many MCs and RWAs. 

This makes user-friendly and efficient solutions like Payment Gateways all the more important. With an easy payment process and attractive rates, the ApnaComplex Payment Gateway not only encourages residents to pay on time it also offers substantial benefits for the MC, particularly in ensuring efficiency. With a recent slash in convenience charges, the platform now offers upto 40% savings when compared to market rates. 

Importance of Maintenance Charges

Managing any residential complex typically involves multiple expenses. Maintenance charges are levied by the MC or RWA to meet these expenses. Its calculation can depend on multiple factors and can differ from one residential complex to another. It can be calculated according to per square feet of a unit or may be the same for every flat / villa / house. It typically covers, but is not limited to areas like: 

  • Common areas electricity and water charges
  • Insurance and taxes
  • Sinking or reserve fund
  • Parking charges
  • Society election fund
  • Service charges
  • Non-occupancy charges
  • Repairs and general maintenance
  • Staff salaries 

To know more about society maintenance charges, read our article here. Despite its importance, gaps in collecting these charges remains one of the biggest challenges for most MCs. Every measure that can prompt residents to make payments on time, therefore, can prove critical in minimising chances of defaults. 

Why ApnaComplex Payment Gateway  

The ApnaComplex Payment Gateway not only makes it easy for residents to make payments, it also makes the process of maintenance collection significantly more efficient. Here are just some benefits of adapting Payment Gateway for collecting maintenance charges:

Generate instant receipts: In a legacy system, residents often fail to inform the society after making their digital payment. Even in case of cheque or cash payments, there could be gaps in receipt generation due to human errors. With a Payment Gateway, receipts are generated automatically, allowing both the residents and the MCs to keep accurate records. 

Automatic reconciliation: Typically, the accounts team will wait for bank statements to enter payment details in the society accounts. This involves extra effort and time, and may delay receipt allocation even further. Account reconciliation is made even more cumbersome when details of each bank account has to be tallied. With a payment gateway, accounts are reconciled automatically. Apart from saving time and effort, it also reduces any chances of errors.   

Minimal convenience fee: With ApnaComplex Payment Gateway, residents can make in-app payments at a minimal convenience fee of 1.1% (plus GST) on credit cards and 0.6% (plus GST) on debit card transactions below ₹2000. This allows them to save upto 40% on when paying their common area maintenance charges and electricity bills. 

Credit card benefits: Residents have the opportunity to gain other rewards and benefits when making their digital payments. They also have some leeway in making the actual payment when paying by credit card.  

Defaulters’ list: Despite best efforts, some residents will still default on their payments. Timely access to defaulters’ list is essential in tracking these gaps. Apart from identifying defaulters, it helps in calculating actual collections, and in planning any corrective measures. Under a legacy system, this would be generated only after account reconciliation. However, the ApnaComplex accounting module automatically updates the defaulters’ list which can be viewed or downloaded at any time. 

The Payment Gateway further strengthens ApnaComplex’s digital payment structure. It ensures efficiency by reducing time, effort, and errors. More importantly, it promotes transparency in the system, further enhanced through automation of the accounting procedures. Read our article here to know why you should adopt digital payments. If you want to know how to manage late payments and improve collections, read our article here.  

Please refer to our Collection Gateway page for more details. To schedule a free demo, or to know more about ApnaComplex Payment Gateway, get in touch with us at support@apnacomeplex. 

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ApnaComplex Rentals, creating a paradigm shift
Shajai Jacob
October 20, 2022

Data Insight With Personalised Service: How ApnaComplex is Driving the Change in Rentals

For years, the residential rental brokerage has been dominated by local agents. Largely unorganised, these agents often lived locally and had limited resources. Most rental agencies were effectively manned by a single agent who kept tabs on vacancies in the area. With the internet came the digitalisation of the rental industry. However, this was largely limited to property listings where people could view different vacancies in a city.  The online portals rarely affected the local broker who continued to operate in silos, relying on their extensive network. 

As the rental industry turns a full circle, we are again poised at a turning point where the online-to-offline model is fast gaining traction. Combining the data insight of a tech-first approach with personalised services of offline brokers, this model has evolved partly to meet changing customer requirements and partly in response to the need for hyper-accelerating rentals to meet exploding demand. 

Working in Silos

Like other industries, the internet was expected to be a game changer in residential rentals. Online listings were expected to streamline the process, directly connecting the owner and the tenant, taking out any unnecessary third party from the equation. The reality was starkly different. Most such portals operated on a subscription basis where detailed information was only visible for a nominal fee. 

More importantly, they lacked the network and reach of local brokers. The model depended on homeowners listing their property, but found few takers. Quite often the contact details were of brokers who used these portals to increase their reach. In fact, local brokers were often more likely to close the vacancies in their catchment area, further strengthened by personal service. 

Yet, they too faced challenges. Most potential renters are now increasingly likely to do their initial research on the web. They also expect end-to-end support that can strain smaller brokerages. There have also been concerns about ethical conduct where a broker may try to reduce the rent to find suitable renters in a short time. 

Online-to-Offline Approach  

A new generation of tech-savvy consumers and the increasing digital penetration in our daily life is now creating another paradigm shift, bringing together online and offline approaches in a manner to enhance each other’s advantages. Online reach is becoming increasingly critical to reaching the millennial buyers who form the dominant demographic in the real estate industry today. They are more likely to look for their next home online than meet multiple brokers. 

The increasing digital penetration has further accelerated this trend, giving us the tools to refine our search and correct the current imbalance between surging demand and low supply. However, there is also an increasing realisation that this must be supplemented with personalised service. A digital-only approach bypasses the personal touch that can be instrumental in building long-term relationships. Hence, leading to an approach where offline and online can be combined. 

ApnaComplex Rentals, Creating a Paradigm Shift

ApnaComplex Rentals leverages its tech-first approach with a pan-India network to bring together both online and offline models in rentals, thereby creating a smooth end-to-end service. On the technology side, it benefits from data insight derived from the app’s adoption in gated communities. Rental availability can be determined from move-in / move-out data, while lease agreements help in predicting availability. 

With an extensive network in gated communities, built on continued relationships with Management Communities and Resident Welfare Associations, we can also access a verified pool of tenants and landlords. This resolves one of the persistent challenges of carrying out relevant verifications. 

It is further supported by an offline approach where an on-site Estate Portfolio Manager (EPM) handles all requirements on behalf of the landlord, including assisting with the lease agreement and move-in. ApnaComplex Rentals also activates the unorganised local broker community in AC micro markets while partnering with leading real estate portals to funnel leads. This ensures that demand can be met in a short span.

In a first for the industry, ApnaComplex Rentals offers the society a fee share from rental transactions. It also ensures a higher rental yield for the landlord (by 4.5% to 5%). This is further enhanced by a lower three-week transaction fee, as against higher market operating charges, ensuring maximum gains for the landlord. 

In short, ApnaComplex Rentals benefits all stakeholders.

  • Largest platform for verified pool of tenants and landlords
  • Society gets a share in transaction fees
  • End-to-end rental management for landlord
  • High rental yield
  • Three week transaction fee, lower than market rates
  • Quick closing of demand by tenant
  • Strong offline network with a dedicated EPM and local brokers

If you want to know more about ApnaComplex Rentals, call us at 0120 71173344 or write to us at rentals@apnacomplex.com.

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How RWAs and MCs are Driving Property Values
Paromita Datta
October 10, 2022

Driving Property Values Through a high Living Index: How Gated Communities are Leading the Charge

There is little doubt that gated communities are among the most coveted addresses today. According to a recent study, the demand for gated communities will increase by more than 2.5 the current levels to reach $500 billion by 2026 covering at least 24 million households. With many such residential developments now coming up in almost every city, gated communities are also driving the revival in residential sales. 

There are multiple reasons for their increased popularity. Gated communities offer a superior living experience in cities that are often plagued by crumbling infrastructure. With amenities like clubs, healthcare and sports facilities, these residential complexes also offer a strong spirit of community. One of the biggest contributing factors behind this is the hard work put up by Management Committees (MC) and Resident Welfare Associations (RWA) who are responsible for the overall administration of these residential areas.

SaaS-based Enterprise Resource Planning solutions like ApnaComplex have emerged as powerful tools for these MCs and RWAs in discharging their duties. With end-to-end digital solutions for community management, ApnaComplex has empowered MCs to optmise their resources, improve performance and cost efficiency. 

Role of MCs and RWAs in Raising Market Value

What puts gated communities at a higher premium than their non-gated counterparts? Even in developments that are coming up in peripheral areas, the market value often exceeds the property rates in the same locality by at least 10% to 20%. In many cases, it can even be double the rate. This higher market value comes from the quality of life that many MCs have successfully managed to maintain within premises. 

These governing bodies have increasingly taken on the mantle of delivering a higher standard of living in direct contrast to the state of affairs in most of our cities. Many of the leading gated communities today boast of state-of-the-art facilities like clubhouse and wellness facilities. They have also actively implemented sustainable practices like setting up waste segregation, rainwater harvesting and wastewater processing. 

In the process, these gated communities today offer an exceptional way of life that often raises the market value of the property. As a result, buyers are now increasingly willing to pay the extra buck for the facilities and ease of living in such complexes. 

How ApnaComplex is changing the game

Apartment management solutions have emerged as game changers in this endeavour. Through extensive digitalisation and automation of their functions, MCs and RWAs have been successful in improving the efficiency of community administration while delivering greater value to residents. 

As pioneers in community management automation solutions, ApnaComplex has been an intrinsic part of this journey, helping MCs and RWAs through innovative tech solutions. Via a central platform, it has helped these bodies through the following measures:

  • Digitalisation of billing and collections
  • Online payments 
  • Swift complaint resolution
  • Digital visitor management system
  • Establishing sustained two-way communication
  • Efficient asset management through timely maintenance 
  • Digital facility management including an app-based reservation system 
  • Involving residents in policy formation through multiple channels, including surveys and polls

These digital solutions are a vital part of initiating a smart living ecosystem in our urban areas. Empowered by ApnaComplex’s cutting-edge digital solutions, MCs and RWAs have managed to outpace the government in creating a higher living standard among gated communities. These benefits have, in turn, been instrumental in raising the market value of gated residential complexes. 

If you want to know more about our community management and security solutions, get in touch with us at support@apnacomeplex. Our team will help you understand the various features you can use for improving efficiency through digitalisation and automation.

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Paromita Datta
September 30, 2022

How to Use ApnaComplex to Take the Stress out of Event Planning this Festive Season

The festival season is here. With Navratri, Dussehra, Durga Puja, Diwali, and later Christmas coming up, the last quarter of the year is packed with festivals that we all look forward to. As people enter the celebration mode, gated communities, apartment complexes, and cooperative housing societies are also preparing to put up with grand events. 

As a community management platform, ApnaComplex offers multiple avenues for Management Committees (MC) and Resident Welfare Association (RWA) to collaborate and plan for events. These modules are designed to aid the MC and RWAs to budget for and organise large-scale events, bringing together residents for a common cause. 

Planning Events

The first step lies in planning for the event. This can include a carnival, party, puja, or a feast. With thousands of attendees, there are often multiple issues to consider, from budgeting to sending notices and coordinating with different vendors. Here are just some ways ApnaCOmplex can help in planning the event:

Notifications: Every event starts with notifications. This is necessary to gather resident support and assistance. Notifications can be posted to invite volunteers, form event committees, invite suggestions, and post the details.

Discussion forums: Planning and coordinating for an event starts with the formulation of an organising committee. The challenge often lies in ensuring the smooth flow of communication within this committee. ApnaComplex Discussion Forum allows committee members to coordinate with each other through online discussions and mails. It also gives you access to historical data on similar topics, including minutes of previous meetings. This data can help the committee to anticipate challenges and plan for every eventuality. 

Invite feedback: A cultural or religious celebration is one of the most important community events. These occasions act as a powerful medium in bringing together different people, promoting community spirit. But this is not possible without wide-scale participation. ApnaComplex facilitates this by inviting feedback and suggestions from the residents through multiple channels, including surveys, polls, Discussion Forum, and suggestion module. 

Informing residents: When the event is finalised, residents should be informed well in advance of the venue and timings. MCs can post this information on the Notice Board in the Communication module. This is easily visible and can be accessed by the resident at any time and from anywhere. 

Tracking expenses

ApnaComplex’s highly flexible accounting ERP allows the MCs to create a special accounting category. This can be utilised to create expense reports, determine budget variance, and find out the budgetary outlay for different vendors or tasks. The accounting module is thus important in keeping track of every expense for a particular event. 

Ensuring security 

One of the critical aspects of a community festival is to ensure security. Many residents may invite their friends or family to attend. In case of an open event, guests from outside may also be allowed. There are other outsiders, such as vendors, technicians, or additional staff members who are often hired for such occasions. The ApnaComplex Gatekeeper module is a highly effective means to keep a track of outsiders in such cases. Visitors should be allowed only with a Gatepass. Vendors should also be registered and issued a temporary Gatepass. 

When it comes to community or property management, technology is mainly seen as an enabler of operational efficiency. However, it can have an equally powerful impact in easing social occasions, bringing together people and strengthening the community. ApnaComplex offers you smart solutions that are tailored for your needs, whether it is automated accounting or organising events. 

If you want to learn more about our event optimisation tools, get in touch with us at support@apnacomeplex. Our team will help you leverage ApnaComplex modules to plan and execute events. 

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What is a rental agreement & Why you should get one
Shajai Jacob
September 28, 2022

What is a Rental Agreement & Why you Should Get One

The rental agreement is the most important document in the renting process. It is that crucial deed that lays the foundation for the rental transaction, its duration and renewal. As a legal document, it also provides both the landlord and the tenant protection against any unfair practices by either party.

ApnaComplex Rentals is a one-stop rental management service that can help landlords and tenants with formulating and registering a rental agreement. In addition, they can also benefit from move-in / move-out services, home insurance coverage, and getting the property ready for occupation. 

What is a rental agreement?

A rental agreement is a contract between the landlord and the tenant that governs a tenancy that lays down related terms and clauses. As a legal document, these terms and conditions are enforceable, thus making it critical in protecting the rights of both parties. 

A rental agreement typically contains the following:

  • Name and contact details of tenant(s) and landlord
  • Description of the unit, including address and inventory (e.g. equipments and furniture)
  • Proportion or area of the property
  • Duration of the tenancy
  • Rent details including security deposit and rent due date
  • Terms, responsibilities, and rights of both parties
  • Clauses for extending or terminating the agreement

Since these clauses will be binding during the term of the tenancy, it is highly recommended to read the agreement carefully before signing. Make sure that all the terms are as per your negotiations. 

Importance of Rental Agreement 

Even today, the rental landscape is rife with unregulated transactions that have plagued this segment. People may choose to forgo a rental agreement to avoid paying a registration fee or to hide their income or spending. Instead, they rely on verbal or written agreements that have no legal standing. This can have disastrous consequences. 

We have landlords who raise rents or evict tenants without proper notice. On the other hand, we have tenants who refuse to pay rent or evict on time. A rental agreement is meant to protect both parties. Its benefits include:

  • Protecting the rights of the tenant(s) and landlord
  • Defining the tenancy duration and its renewal or termination
  • Proof of residency for the tenant
  • Reducing the chances of disputes between the tenant and landlord

In terms of paperwork, the necessity of getting a rental agreement can differ from one state to another. However, as both central and different state governments push towards promoting ethical transactions and transparency in the segment, rental agreements will become legally mandatory. 

Model Tenancy Act & Rental Agreements

The Union Government had proposed the Model Tenancy Act with the view of regularising the rental landscape. Under the act, states have to set up a ‘rent authority’ under which landlords and tenants have to register their agreement. The act will replace existing regulations in states that already have such a system.

However, it is important to understand that even when it comes into effect, it may not apply to all rental agreements. First, it is only applicable to tenancy periods exceeding 11 months. As a prospective law, only agreements registered after the act comes into force will come under its jurisdiction. Existing agreements will be governed by current regulations. 

The improved regulatory framework is also expected to attract bigger players and developers. For instance, ApnaComplex includes rental agreement assistance as part of its all-inclusive services in this segment. Apart from a critical value-add, this agreement is also part of our commitment towards promoting ethical practices in real estate. 

If you want to know more about ApnaComplex one-stop rental management service, call us at 0120 71173344 or write to us at rentals@apnacomplex.com

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How to navigate a landlord's market
Shajai Jacob
September 22, 2022

It’s Boom Time for Rental Housing Demand. What Does it Mean for You

The rental housing market is going through a boom with major metros seeing a hike in prices when compared to the pre-COVID period. Housing rents in Mumbai Metropolitan Region and Bengaluru have gone up by as much as 15-20%. In Pune, the hike is anywhere between 10-20% while the NCR has seen a 10-15% rise. Similarly, rents have gone up by 8-10% in Chennai and by 5-10% in Hyderabad and Kolkata. 

What do these developments mean for landlords or tenants? Even as property owners try to maximise their profits, what can it hold for renters who are desperately seeking suitable accommodation? How do both of them find the best possible deal? 

If you need help in navigating this landlord market, ApnaComplex offers a one-stop rental and resale management service. The all-inclusive services start with scouting for rentals, and includes assistance in digital rent agreement, move-in/move-out, and collecting rents. 

The Housing Rental Boom

This price hike indicates a much-needed correction after a two-year-long COVID slump when rentals were slashed or plateaued. Job losses coupled with many professionals moving to their hometowns saw rentals falling in metropolitan areas while there was increased interest in smaller towns. 

As offices open up and people return from their hometowns, there has been a surge of demand in bigger cities. On the other hand, new developments came to a halt during the last two years, resulting in the current shortage of housing options, especially in premium gated communities. Together, these factors have led to a landlord’s market where the homeowner pretty much gets to set the terms. 

As a Landlord

For homeowners, it makes sense to cash in on the current boom to recover losses. Apartments, condos, or villas in most gated communities are likely to find takers within minutes of posting a listing. In this scenario, there are two key factors that homeowners have to keep in mind:

  • Finding out the rentals in the area to ensure maximum yield
  • Ensuring a reliable tenant who has the capacity and willingness to pay rent on time. 

These issues can be challenging for many homeowners, especially if they are not located in the same area. With fluctuating rentals, it can be difficult to keep track of the current rates. Similarly, tenant verification takes time and effort that may not be possible for every homeowner.

With ApnaComplex, Rentals homeowners have the means to meet all these requirements in one place. Through a dedicated Estate Portfolio Manager (EPM) they are informed of current rates. The manager also helps homeowners to scout for suitable renters, assist in the move-out process, and carry out tenant verification.

As a Tenant

A landlord market means a tough time for tenants as they scramble to find suitable accommodation within their budget. In this scenario, they may be forced to pay more than expected while settling for a home that is often less than their ideal standard. For tenants the main factors to keep in mind are:

  • Finding the best deal for their money
  • Ensuring a rental agreement is in place 
  • Go with a verified landlord

As a rental management service, ApnaComplex helps both the tenants and homeowners reach a mutually agreeable deal. This is followed by a duly-signed rental agreement to protect the interests of both parties. A verified repository of rental properties means that tenants can also trust the veracity of the listings. With an EPM acting as a single point of contact, the platform also eliminates the need to work with multiple brokers.

As property owners aim at maximising their rental yields and tenants try to find a suitable accommodation, ApnaComplex offers them a highly viable alternative where both parties can find an acceptable solution. With reduced fee for ApnaComplex users and no upfront or sign-up fee, it is also a more economic alternative.

If you want to know more about ApnaComplex one-stop rental management service, call us at 0120 71173344 or write to us at rentals@apnacomplex.com

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Be disaster-ready With ApnaComplex
Paromita Datta
September 16, 2022

Our Cities Have a Serious Problem in Disaster Preparedness. How About Gated Communities

Every monsoon our news channels feature at least one city drowning in its own urban cesspit. This year it was Bengaluru where billionaires found out that money cannot insulate them from nature’s fury or inept urban planning. It is no wonder that the livability index has taken a beating in our leading cities, but gated communities have by and large managed to buck this reality. So what went wrong in Bengaluru and are there lessons to be learned? 

The problem in this case lies in unplanned and unchecked urban development. For gated communities, this disaster was another lesson staying prepared for any challenge through disaster planning and preparedness. Villas and condos in low-lying areas have to invest in extensive drainage networks, full gutter systems, and sump pumps. Together, these measures can help in reducing hydrostatic pressure, direct excess water, and bring down the likelihood of flooding. 

Staying Prepared

While these infrastructural measures are critical, we must think beyond and plan for every eventuality. The pandemic has shown us that a disaster can strike at any time and in any form. These calamities can pose a serious threat to the high livability standards that many gated communities have managed to deliver within their premises. It jeopardises the health and safety of residents and strains resources.

With its full-stack technology solutions in apartment management, ApnaComplex can play a critical role in mitigating these impacts. It offers multiple tools to support disaster management. These are designed specifically to help MCs create a more accessible and efficient system for managing calamities. As an integrated platform, it can play a critical role in establishing, executing and tracking disaster management initiatives. 

Importance of Disaster Preparedness 

Data shows that the number of disasters have increased by fivefold over the last 50 years. Natural calamities like floods and hurricanes have increased in frequency, creating damage to both private and shared areas in a housing complex. At the same time, the spread of a disease or epidemic has created new healthcare challenges.

Disasters rarely come with any warning, creating an emergency where resources are put under strain to manage resources. MCs have to allocate manpower judiciously to contain or mitigate the impact while moving quickly to address resident queries. If unaddressed, these calamities can cause millions in damages, cause anger or dissatisfaction, and strain the limited resources of a housing complex. 

A 2021 study of residential-cum-commercial property in Mumbai demonstrated that proper planning can mitigate losses due to disasters. However, to be effective, a good plan must include detailed execution, operation, and maintenance systems. ApnaComplex enables this execution, creating a broadcasting system while strengthening it at the back end through its operational modules. 

ApnaComplex Tools for Disaster Management 

As a comprehensive apartment management software, ApnaComplex is a highly effective platform that can help the MC in disaster preparedness and management. 

Public broadcast

The first step in disaster management is ensuring timely communication. Residents must be made aware of impending disasters. They must be informed of the steps to take in an emergency. The ApnaComplex Notice Board under the Communication module can be leveraged to send multi-channel communication including in-app messages, emails, and SMSs. 

Communicating the plan

For any plan to be successful, the residents must be aware of its guidelines. They must be made aware of the steps to take when a calamity strikes. ApnaComplex Community Wiki is an information repository where important data can be uploaded and shared. With role-based access, the Wiki can also be used to upload the plan of action that should be followed by the MC and admin staff. 

In case of an emergency, a quick communication can be issued to direct residents to this repository. Apart from guidelines, this platform is also valuable in maintaining a contact directory. This can include contact details of the crisis team, emergency services, exit plans, and diagrams. 

Asset management

Maintaining emergency equipment is critical for quick response when a catastrophe strikes. Routine maintenance checks should be carried out on smoke and fire detectors as well as equipment like fire extinguishers and sump pumps. ApnaComplex has comprehensive modules for recording service history and AMC details. You can also add a maintenance schedule with reminder notifications. 

Similarly, the Inventory Tracker can be set up to track purchases and ensure stock levels of all items that may be required during a crisis. Together these measures ensure that the community is equipped and empowered to face a crisis. 

Case Study: ApnaComplex COVID Response

When the pandemic struck in 2020, many housing societies found themselves scrambling to accommodate a new reality where lockdown measures had to be imposed. There were many other considerations, such as limiting the number of visitors. The digital solutions offered by ApnaComplex helped in establishing and strengthening a smooth contactless management system. At the same time, there were further enhancements to monitor and track COVID cases. Together these COVID measures included:

  • Contactless visitor management 
  • Quarantine tracker to keep track of families that were under isolation
  • No-contact accounting
  • In-app communication 
  • Online polls and surveys to gather consensus for new COVID policies
  • Vaccination Tracker to keep track of vaccinated staff and members

You can learn more about ApnaComplex COVID management in our article here. If you want to know about our disaster management tools, call us at +91 80886 11229 or email us at sales@apnacomplex.com. Our team will get in touch with you at the earliest.

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Boost rental income
Paromita Datta
September 12, 2022

Not Getting the Best Rent for your Home? Try Our Seven Smart Tricks

Real estate has traditionally been considered a critical investment. For most investors, the rent on their property is a valuable source of passive income with an asset base that will appreciate with time. This rental is even more important when paying off a home loan. Augmenting rental income is not just important for getting the most out of your buck. It can also be instrumental in making sure that you can earn a profit over monthly EMIs or add to your retirement corpus.

ApnaComplex offers a one-stop rental management solution to property owners. With a dedicated Estate Portfolio Manager (EPM), our end-to-end support starts from scouting suitable tenants to handling tenant verification and handling online rent collection. While the platform offers comprehensive support in ensuring maxising returns, as a landlord, you must also go the extra mile in ensuring that the returns on your investment can be maximised. 

Maximising Rental Income 

Ensuring high rentals depends on various factors, including finding the right tenant. Simply hiking the price does not work. Tenants will pay a high rent only if the property is well maintained and offers them value in terms of high quality fittings or a prime location. 

Retrofit for energy-efficiency

The first step is to ensure that your property is energy efficient. It reduces energy usage and promotes sustainability in the long term. More importantly, it can help in attracting tenants who are willing to pay higher rentals in return for lower bills and more conscious energy consumption. 

Keeping the property in good condition

You cannot attract a good tenant to a property that is shabby or unkempt. The house must be cleaned and painted during apartment viewing. Damaged floors, appliances, and furnishings should be repaired or replaced. A property in good condition also encourages the tenant to follow suit. They are more likely to take care of your home as their own and see that no damage occurs. 

Furnished or semi-furnished?

This is often the dilemma when it comes to augmenting rentals. A furnished home can be more expensive to fit out, but this can be realised through higher security deposits and rents. However, we must also take into account the depreciation over time. Such apartments also often attract short-term renters, such as students, professionals on tenure, or in general, people who want the mobility of moving on without carrying extra baggage. 

Many landlords also do not want to invest in fully furnishing their homes. A semi-furnished home with important fittings like wardrobes, is often seen as a better alternative. While the rents are lower, you are likely to attract more long-term renters. The overall asset depreciation will also be lower. 

Verify your tenants

What happens if your tenant packs up their home and leaves in the middle of the night? Or if they have made false claims about their income and do not have adequate means to pay the rent. This can impact your own rental income as you are forced to look for a new tenant. Verification is also important to ensure that the tenant does not have any legal or financial liabilities. 

If you are not sure about how to carry out this critical function, ApnaComplex includes KYC and tenant verification as part of their rental services. The process involves scanning the renters’ backgrounds for any red flags that may impact their ability to pay on time. 

Make it easy for tenants to pay rent  

A tenant is more likely to pay their rent on time if it is an easy process. Traveling to the other side of the town to pay a landlord in cash is always going to be more cumbersome than a simple online transfer that can be made anytime and from anywhere. ApnaComplex offers an online rent collection facility where tenants can pay their rents through their preferred payment gateway. To further ensure timely payments, tenants also receive alerts and reminders. 

Make it legal and secure

It is always advisable to ensure that tenants are onboarded through a legally-binding rent agreement. This must be followed even if the tenant is a friend, relative, or a highly trusted individual. A legal document protects both you and the renter from any unfair demands and sets clear expectations from both parties. It clarifies their fiduciary responsibilities and important details like the monthly rent and security deposit. Needless to say, it legally binds your tenant to pay on time.  

Stay updated with rentals

When you do not live in the same region as your rental property, it can be easy to lose touch with the rental trends. Rent amounts can change at different rates even in the same city. Hence, it’s always advisable to check the average rentals in the vicinity when looking for new tenants or renewing the rent agreement. 

With ApnaComplex rental and resale services you can be assured of staying abreast with the latest rental rates. Our dedicated team makes sure that you will get the best possible returns on your property. We also charge a reduced service fee for the users of ApnaComplex. In addition, there is  no signup or upfront fee, which further augments the overall gains. 

If you want to know more about ApnaComplex one-stop rental management services, call us at 0120 71173344 or write to us at rentals@apnacomplex.com

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Manage Late Payments With ApnaComplex
Paromita Datta
September 9, 2022

How to Manage Late Payments & Maximise Collections

The most persistent challenge for every housing society is collecting maintenance dues. The larger the number of units, the more the chances of defaulting residents. In fact, at any given time, there are likely to be some residents who are always late or refuse to pay the charges. Most Management Committees (MC) or Resident Welfare Associations (RWA) find themself struggling in avoiding any such eventuality.

ApnaComplex automated Accounting and Billing module enables treasurers to improve their collections by streamlining payment functions. With the automated calculation of late payment charges, recurring invoices, timely reminders, and auto-generation of defaulters reports, treasurers can prompt residents to pay society dues on time. Ultimately, this helps in improving and increasing maintenance payments. 

Importance of timely Maintenance Payments

Most gated communities charge maintenance fees on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis. The calculation of maintenance charges can depend on various factors and should be within model bye-laws. However, since these regulations can differ from state to state, there is no standard or fixed formula that applies to all gated communities across the country. 

While the calculation of maintenance changes may differ, the purpose is largely the same. These charges are meant for the maintenance and development of common amenities and facilities. It should be noted that the society does not earn any profits from these charges. Without residents paying maintenance dues, the management committee would not have the funds to discharge their essential duties. You can read more about the scope and calculation of maintenance charges in our article here. 

Challenges in Collecting Maintenance Dues 

In an ideal world, residents would pay their full maintenance dues on time. In reality however, there are always some residents who will either delay or default on these payments. This could be due to negligence, lack of intention, or some dispute over the maintenance amount. In the case of a dispute, the member can write to the treasurer or the management committee. If unresolved, they can pursue this further by writing an application to the Deputy Registrar, ordering the Society to rescind or refund the extra charges. 

There could be other challenges as well, such as bureaucratic problems of keeping track of different maintenance charges, calculating late charges and penalties, and making sure that all residents are informed in time. 

If the maintenance is not paid in time, a member risks becoming a defaulter. Defaulters are typically not allowed to hold any post in the MC or vote in Annual General Meetings. The MC may also choose to restrict the usage of common facilities like the clubhouse. Finally, the society can refuse to issue an NOC or No Objection Certificate to defaulters for resale or renting.  

How can ApnaComplex Help in Reducing Late Payments?

The automated accounting module helps in streamlining billing and collection functions so that residents are informed in time about defaulting payments. Here are some ways by which we can use the module to streamline the collection of maintenance dues:

  • Raise and send invoices against all or select flats 
  • Automate invoice calculations based on formulae or fixed value or both
  • Set up automated delivery for recurring invoices on a given date every month. 
  • Auto-calculate late payments with multiple options for adding penalties 
  • Automatically collect payments through the Collection Gateway 
  • Set up a delivery schedule for defaulters reports 
  • Set up reminder notifications for overdue invoices through Email, SMS or in-app push notifications 

In summation, ApnaComplex auto-calculates and sends maintenance invoices, following this up with notifications for overdue payments. This system ensures that no member misses the payment deadline due to oversight or negligence. The option to impose different penalties gives the admin control over the imposition payment charges. 

The defaulter report is critical in tracking late payments. It gives MCs an overall picture of the number of defaulters, total overdue payments, and the average outstanding amount each month. As an automated accounting module, ApnaComplex is also seen as an impartial source for collating data and calculating late payments. In case of a dispute, this data can be pulled up to see the actual picture. 

To know more about automated collection tools, get in touch with us at support@apnacomeplex. Our team can help you understand and adapt the accounting module to track late payments, send reminders, auto-calculate penalties, raise invoices, and schedule a defaulter’s report.

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