OpenRent Alternative - Social Home

# OpenRent Alternative - Social Home ## Overview OpenRent is a popular DIY landlord platform, offering tenant referencing, contract generation, and basic property advertising. However, for social housing providers and professional property managers, OpenRent's limited post-let support, inspection tools, and safeguarding capabilities create significant gaps in resident management. ## Why Social Home is a Better Alternative ### OpenRent's Limitations OpenRent focuses on **pre-let services** but provides limited support for: - **Post-let management** - No ongoing tenant support or case file tracking - **Inspection workflows** - No automated scheduling or evidence capture - **Safeguarding tools** - No case file system for vulnerable residents - **Maintenance coordination** - Basic work order tracking, limited contractor management - **Compliance tracking** - Manual HMO licence and certificate management - **Resident journeys** - No guided workflows for onboarding or support ### What Social Home Provides Social Home offers **complete tenant lifecycle management**: #### ✅ Post-Let Support - **Ongoing tenant management** - Complete tenant records with communication history - **Case file system** - Track support needs, safeguarding concerns, and interventions - **Resident journeys** - Guided workflows for onboarding, inspections, and move-outs #### ✅ Inspection Workflows - **Automated scheduling** - Never miss an inspection appointment - **Evidence capture** - Photos, notes, and compliance checks all in one place - **Follow-up actions** - Automatic work orders for identified issues #### ✅ Safeguarding Tools - **Case file tracking** - Centralised records for vulnerable residents - **Support worker coordination** - Connect with social workers and care providers - **Risk assessment** - Early indicators of tenant support needs #### ✅ Maintenance & Compliance - **Work order management** - Complete repair tracking from report to completion - **Contractor directory** - Find verified service providers - **Compliance tracking** - HMO licences, safety certificates, regulatory requirements ## Feature Comparison | Feature | OpenRent | Social Home | |---------|----------|-------------| | Tenant referencing | ✅ | ✅ | | Contract generation | ✅ | ✅ | | Property advertising | ✅ | ✅ | | Post-let management | Limited | ✅ Comprehensive | | Inspection workflows | ❌ | ✅ | | Safeguarding tools | ❌ | ✅ | | Case file system | ❌ | ✅ | | Maintenance coordination | Basic | ✅ Advanced | | Compliance tracking | Manual | ✅ Automated | | Resident journeys | ❌ | ✅ | ## Migration Guide ### Step 1: Export Your Data Export existing tenant and property information from OpenRent: 1. **Tenant records** - Download tenant contact details and tenancy history 2. **Property data** - Export property details and room information 3. **Contract information** - Save tenancy agreements and important documents ### Step 2: Import to Social Home Use Social Home's bulk upload tools: 1. **Property import** - Upload all properties and rooms 2. **Tenant migration** - Import tenant records with their history 3. **Document storage** - Upload contracts and compliance documents ### Step 3: Configure Workflows Set up Social Home for your operations: 1. **Resident journeys** - Configure onboarding and inspection workflows 2. **Safeguarding processes** - Set up case file templates and support worker contacts 3. **Maintenance processes** - Configure work order templates and contractor assignments ### Step 4: Team Training Train your team on Social Home's advanced features: 1. **Case file management** - Tracking vulnerable residents and support needs 2. **Inspection workflows** - Scheduling, evidence capture, and follow-up actions 3. **Maintenance coordination** - Creating work orders and managing contractors ## Key Advantages ### For Social Housing Providers - **Safeguarding support** - Case file system tracks vulnerable residents - **Post-let management** - Complete tenant support throughout tenancy - **Compliance confidence** - Automated tracking of HMO licences and safety certificates ### For Property Managers - **Inspection efficiency** - Automated scheduling and evidence capture - **Maintenance coordination** - Faster work order processing - **Resident wellbeing** - Early indicators of support needs ### For Housing Associations - **Regulatory compliance** - HMO, fire safety, and housing standards all tracked - **Support worker integration** - Connect with social workers and care providers - **Portfolio insights** - Understand which properties need more support ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Can I still use OpenRent for referencing? Yes. Social Home includes tenant referencing, but you can continue using OpenRent for referencing and Social Home for complete management. ### How does Social Home handle contracts? Social Home includes contract generation and storage. You can import existing OpenRent contracts or generate new ones within Social Home. ### What about my existing OpenRent tenancies? You can migrate all existing tenancies to Social Home. Import tenant records, property data, and contracts to get started. ## Next Steps 1. **Explore the comparison page** - See how Social Home compares: [/compare](/compare) 2. **Read getting started guide** - Learn the basics: [/resources/getting-started](/resources/getting-started) 3. **Contact our team** - Discuss your needs: [/contact](/contact) ## Related Resources - [Getting Started Guide](/resources/getting-started) - Platform basics - [Manage Gateway Guide](/resources/manage-gateway) - Portfolio management - [Service Providers Directory](/resources/service-providers-directory) - Find contractors - [Compare All Alternatives](/compare) - See all competitor comparisons