How to update the Windows Store app

Posted on December 12, 2024
Sometimes the installation of the Windows App version of RentHQ can go awry. If the download was not successful or the app store had an issue installing the files, you might be able to solve this by uninstalling and reinstalling the app again.

Here are the steps required.

1. Uninstall the current app. Find the RentHQ icon on the start menu, right click it and choose Uninstall.
Uninstall the RentHQ Windows App

2. You might be able to skip this step. However sometimes Window will keep a copy of the last installation files you used, and when you choose to reinstall again it might install the exact same files. But if there was something wrong with those files, then you can clear out the windows store cache and force the Windows Store to download a fresh copy. Follow these steps.

  • Press Win + R to open the Run dialog

  • Type WSReset.exe and press Enter

  • A blank Command Prompt window will appear, indicating that the cache is being cleared.

  • Once the process is complete, the Microsoft Store will open automatically.

  • Run the WSReset command

3. Reinstall RentHQ again from the Windows App Store (https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9nblggh4pfkj)

RentHQ Updates in version 4.1.0

Posted on November 18, 2024
We’re happy to announce a new update for our desktop software! It’s been a while since the last release, but this update comes packed with improvements to enhance your workflow. Here’s what’s new:

- Detailed Arrears Tracking: The Information tab on the tenant details screen now shows separate totals for rent arrears and extra charges arrears, making it easier to manage outstanding payments.

- Insurance Alerts on the Dashboard: If you’ve entered insurance expiry details for a property, these will now appear on the Dashboard when the expiry date is within 30 days. Stay ahead with timely reminders!

- Improved Disbursement Screen Layout: We’ve made the Transactions tab on the disbursement screen taller, so you can view more transactions at once without needing to scroll.

- New Mail Merge Fields: You can now include the name, email address or phone number of the current logged-in user in letters generated via Mail Merge—perfect for adding a personal touch.

- Customizable Tenant List: On the Tenant List screen, you can now add the property manager as a column using the three-dot menu.

- Property Manager Print Filter: The Future Rent Changes report now includes a filter option to filter by property manager, giving you more control over your reporting.

- Enhanced GST Reporting: You can now generate GST reports for a single business entity, streamlining tax preparation.

- Bank Reconciliation Totals: Totals are now displayed at the bottom of the Bank Reconciliation report for quick and easy reference.

We hope these updates make your experience even smoother. As always, we’d love to hear your feedback!

All New Mobile App

Posted on September 11, 2024
We're excited to introduce our brand-new mobile app!

While it looks quite similar to the previous version, this app is entirely revamped underneath. This upgrade means it’s now equipped with the latest development tools and technologies.

We’ve also made improvements for a better experience on larger screens, such as iPads, Android tablets, and MacOS computers.

The most notable enhancement is in the photo-taking feature. You can now capture photos more quickly and take multiple shots in succession—ideal for property inspections. Additionally, there's an option to rotate photos before saving them.

While this new feature offers speed and convenience, it doesn’t include every option found in your phone’s camera app. If you prefer, you can still use your phone’s default camera app to take single photos. To switch between photo-taking options, simply head to Setup/Settings in the RentHQ app and choose your preference. (The option to use the camera app is not available when offline)

The inspection calendar screen also now has an 'Agenda' view. This view lists the inspections down the screen in date order. This view is useful on a smaller mobile screen as it shows you the full time and description of the inspections.

This new update is currently only available on Android. The iOS version will follow soon.

RentHQ Updates in version 3.9.9

Posted on August 27, 2024
We've been hard at work behind the scenes this month, bringing you several key updates that we're excited to share.

Highlights from Our Latest Release

1. Enhanced Inspection Calendar: In the Windows version of RentHQ, you can now easily move inspections to different dates or times by simply clicking and dragging. Please note, this feature is available only on the Windows app, not on the browser or mobile versions.

2. Improved Tenant Selection for Tribunal Reports: We've made it easier to find tenants in the Tenancy Tribunal report. Now, you can select the property first, which will then show you a filtered list of tenants associated with that property. This update applies to several other reports requiring tenant selection as well.

3. Streamlined Work Order Emails: Contractors will now receive work order emails with fewer blank lines, especially where address information might have been missing. This small change makes for a cleaner, more readable email.

4. More Informative Reminder Emails: Reminder emails now include the first line of the tenancy address when related to a tenant, providing more context at a glance.

5. Updated Inspection Schedule Report: The Inspection Schedule Report now features the property code, making it easier to identify properties at a glance.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to improve RentHQ!


RentHQ Updates in version 3.9.8

Posted on July 27, 2024
Further enhancements have been adding to RentHQ in version 3.9.8. Here are the highlights from our latest update:

- You can now create a tenant inspection from the tenant details screen, inspections tab. The date and time of the inspection will default to the current date and time, rounded to the nearest half an hour. You can change this date and time.

- You can now do a simple note search. At the top of the list of notes is a text box where you can type in a simple filter. Only notes containing your entered text will appear.

- Similar to previous changes, more lists of items are now sorted in reverse date and time order, with the newest items at the top. This now includes attachments, letters, notes, extra charges and extra fees.

Mail merge on Android and iOS

Posted on July 8, 2024
Mail merge has been available as a feature in the desktop version of RentHQ since the beginning. Now part of that functionality has been added to the mobile device.

You can now generate a letter on the mobile in the same way as the desktop software.
- You can generate a receipt from the transaction screen.
- You can generate a rent increase letter from the rent changes screen.
- You can generate an extra charge letter from the extra charges screen.
- You can generate an inspection letter from the inspection details screen.
- You can generate all other letter types from the Functions/Mail Merge menu option which has been newly added.

Also newly added is the Functions/Letters menu option. This enables you to view previously created letters.

Once generated, the only option is to email the letter to the recipient if they have a primary contact with an email address. You are not able to print from the mobile device.

Due to the much smaller screen size on the mobile, you are not able to create or edit mail merge templates.

RentHQ Updates in version 3.9.6

Posted on June 15, 2024
We have been hard at work implementing your software enhancement suggestions. Here are the highlights from our latest update:

Property Insurance Details:
We've added a new 'Insurance' tab on the property details screen.
A new 'Insurance List' report is available under 'Entity Reports'. This report includes all properties and their basic insurance details, even those without insurance information.
For users generating the New Zealand Tenancy Services tenancy agreement, insurance details will now auto-populate on the form.
Previously entered insurance details from the New Zealand Tenancy Services tenancy agreement have been migrated to the property details screen.

Tenant and Disbursement Information:
On the tenant details screen, tenant history is now sorted with the latest information at the top by default.
The owner disbursements tab now displays the list of disbursements in the same manner, with the most recent information first.

Mobile App Enhancements:
For iOS and Android users with larger tablet screens, the app now utilizes more screen space, improving the display over the previous compressed view meant for smaller mobile phones.

Dashboard Performance:
The dashboard screen has been optimized to load faster, particularly benefiting customers managing a large number of properties and tenants.

Mail Merge Templates:
Additional fields have been added to the Extra Charge letters template. You can now include the tax amount and tax-exclusive amount in your letters.

We hope these updates enhance your experience and efficiency with our software. Thank you for your valuable feedback!

RentHQ Updates in version 3.9.5

Posted on May 23, 2024
RentHQ is constantly evolving, and we're thrilled to announce some new features inspired by your suggestions.

With over 80 reports available, finding your go-to ones can be challenging. We’ve made it easier by allowing you to tag your favorite reports with a star. These favorites will always appear at the top of your list, customized for each user and computer. Simply click the little gold star next to the report name to toggle its favorite status.

Choose your favourite reports

We’ve also added the option for custom work order status values, another highly requested feature. If we added all the status values people have suggested, we would probably have about 20 of them by now. Instead of sifting through a long list of preset statuses, you can now create your own. Head over to the new Functions/Setup/Work Order Status menu to add your custom status values. Note that while you can’t delete the original five status values, you can modify their descriptions and add as many new ones as you need.

For clients managing both residential and commercial properties, we’ve introduced the ability to specify the GST/VAT tax rate on extra charges. If your extra charge income groups all share the same tax rate (typically zero), this change won't affect you. However, if you have multiple extra charge income groups with different tax rates, you can now select the appropriate rate when creating a new extra charge. This feature ensures the correct tax amount is calculated and displayed on your extra charge invoice report.

We hope these improvements enhance your experience with RentHQ. Keep your suggestions coming!

RentHQ Enhancements for May 2024

Posted on May 2, 2024
This month, RentHQ has undergone further enhancements driven by customer feedback and suggestions.

One notable addition is the recording of the login used to create a note, along with displaying the name of the note creator on the note screen. This feature is useful in scenarios involving multiple contributors, especially when referencing actions like a tenant phone call. With this enhancement, identifying the initiator of a note helps to identify who made the phone call.

Additionally, a new report, 'Tenant History 2,' has been introduced. While akin to the existing 'Tenant History' report, it has a slightly refined layout for improved user experience.

Both the Automatic Transactions and Import Rules screens now feature a convenient text filter at the top, facilitating swift entry retrieval.

Furthermore, lists of notes, such as those on the tenant or owner screens, are now sorted to show recent entries at the top of the list.

Comparing Commercial and Residential Property Management Software

Posted on April 15, 2024
When exploring rental properties, two primary categories emerge: commercial and residential. Commercial properties serve businesses, encompassing shops, warehouses, and offices, while residential properties cater to living spaces.

When delving into property management software, it becomes apparent that each property type demands distinct functionalities.

In many aspects, residential and commercial properties share similarities. Both involve tenancy or lease agreements, property maintenance, and financial transactions. However, nuances necessitate tailored software solutions.

Comparing Commercial and Residential Property Management Software

- Commercial property rents typically incur GST in New Zealand or Australia, unlike residential properties. RentHQ addresses this by enabling tax exemption for residential rents.

- While commercial tenants often cover outgoings or OPEX (Operating Expenses), residential property expenses are typically borne by the landlord. This could includes council rates or a shared security system or insurance. RentHQ's Extra Charges feature allows for the allocation of such expenses to tenants.

- Commercial properties often distribute expenses among multiple tenants. For instance, in a shopping complex, council rates may be divided based on square meterage. RentHQ facilitates this through customizable Extra Charge Allocations for each tenant, ensuring equitable expense distribution.

Most property management software caters to either commercial or residential properties. However RentHQ allows you to satisfy all requirements by allowing a mixture of both commercial and residential properties in a single software product.