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Software pioneers with rental market in the palm of their hands [Grimsby Telegraph (UK)]
[April 17, 2014]

Software pioneers with rental market in the palm of their hands [Grimsby Telegraph (UK)]


(Grimsby Telegraph (UK) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) A palm-friendly property app that could revolutionise rental administration has been devised in Grimsby. Directors of Invento Software, Louis Harwood and John Barton, have created LettingCheck, a simple tool that means a single smartphone or tablet can be used to produce vital inventory reports to protect landlords and tenants from disputes. Operating in line with the Tenancy Deposit Scheme, a total of 10,000 properties are already in the system, with more than 7,000 inventories in use. And the success has necessitated a move to new office premises for the pair, long-term family friends, who formed the company two years ago.



"Inventory reports are crucial," said Mr Barton, who focuses on sales and business development for Invento. "Whether it is a letting agent, a landlord or a tenant, an inventory report is important, it can affect how much of a deposit is returned, this proves the initial condition of the property." Taking away the need for duplicated written lists and separate photographs, the program pulls in images taken on the phone's camera, providing useful drop-down answers for many different elements of the inventory, speeding up the process and enhancing accuracy of reports.

It even works offline for remote areas, synchronising once a connection is found.


"The rapid growth has necessitated the move," said Mr Barton, now working from Alexandra Dock Business Centre in Fisherman's Wharf.

"It has gone really well, and we are delighted with the progress in the past 12 months," he said. "The more we get on board, the quicker it is being taken up, with numbers growing and growing.

"It is in use all over the UK, and we already have a client in Gibraltar, through a big customer in London." Freelance support has been brought in to help set the system up, and while for now the pair are handling the workload, it could soon open the door to permanent employment. Mr Harwood, who develops the software, said: "At the moment we are managing the growth, selling the system to potential end users, while at the same time we are developing other products associated with the industry.

"We have a number of new products linked to this, all focused in a similar area. They are all in the letting and property market." While the app is free, there is a subscription-based account option, allowing customers to select the level which best suits their business needs. This provides the revenue stream to the company.

The more we get on board, the quicker it is being taken up, with numbers growing and growing John Barton (c) 2014 ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved.

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