UK PropTech company Optus Homes has announced the rollout of EMPIENT, a tenant app produced largely for smaller landlords in the social housing sector.
In designing and building the EMPIENT app, Optus Homes worked closely with stakeholders in order to understand the elements that drive day-to-day interactions between tenants and landlords.
Particular attention was paid to the design and flow of the app, with the aim of maximising tenant acceptance and usage.
“As part of our roll-out we will be granting a free-of-charge EMPIENT licence to up to 50 smaller social housing landlords,” said Gerry Kelly, CEO at Optus Homes.
“There are no hidden charges or obligations – it’s genuinely free-of-charge for 50 landlords, and any landlord with less than 2,000 homes can apply.”
Kelly added: “For landlords, launching EMPIENT is very straightforward – they simply email their tenants to register and download the app, and from there tenants can use any of EMPIENT’s functions to communicate with their landlord.
“Any input from tenants is delivered directly to a landlord’s management portal, and that portal is all part of the package.
“Landlords can also use the management portal to push out messages and surveys to tenants, canvas their opinion and even offer incentives if they wish.”
EMPIENT also aims to deliver convenience for tenants through easy reporting of repairs and antisocial behaviour, direct messaging to and from landlords, and the ability to provide feedback via surveys.
Optus Homes says a built-in Chatbot is included, and that a rent payment feature will be added shortly.
“Tenants like to be listened to when they have issues,” continued Kelly. “They like to have a voice and have a simple and modern way of getting their message across.
“And that’s what EMPIENT is all about – giving tenants a greater voice.”
Optus Homes Ltd is a G-Cloud 12 listed developer of innovative and disruptive technology solutions for the social housing sector.
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