Description
# Rightmove Alternative - Social Home
## Overview
Rightmove is the UK's largest property portal, focusing on advertising listings to reach millions of potential tenants. However, for social housing providers and property managers, Rightmove's marketplace-only approach leaves critical gaps in resident management, compliance tracking, and ongoing tenancy support.
## Why Social Home is a Better Alternative
### Rightmove's Limitations
Rightmove excels at **advertising properties** but stops there. Once a tenant finds your property, you're left with:
- **No resident journey management** - No guided workflows for onboarding, inspections, or move-outs
- **No case file system** - No centralised place to track tenant support needs, safeguarding concerns, or compliance actions
- **No automated compliance** - Manual tracking of HMO licences, safety certificates, and regulatory requirements
- **No unified communications** - Separate systems for email, SMS, and tenant messaging
- **No maintenance workflows** - No integrated system for work orders, contractor management, or repair tracking
- **No analytics beyond views** - Limited insights into tenancy performance, arrears patterns, or portfolio health
### What Social Home Provides
Social Home goes **far beyond advertising** to provide complete property and resident management:
#### ✅ Guided Resident Journeys
- **Onboarding checklists** - Step-by-step workflows for new tenant setup
- **Inspection workflows** - Automated scheduling and evidence capture
- **Arrears management** - Early warning systems and recovery workflows
- **Safeguarding tools** - Case file tracking for vulnerable residents
#### ✅ Unified Communications
- **Multi-channel messaging** - Email, SMS, and WhatsApp in one place
- **Auditable case notes** - Complete communication history per tenant
- **Automated reminders** - Rent due dates, inspection appointments, compliance deadlines
#### ✅ Compliance Evidence Capture
- **HMO licence tracking** - Automatic reminders and document storage
- **Safety certificate management** - Gas, electrical, fire safety all in one place
- **No spreadsheets required** - Everything digital and searchable
#### ✅ Analytics That Matter
- **Tenancy performance** - Occupancy rates, rent collection, arrears trends
- **Maintenance insights** - Cost tracking, contractor performance, repair patterns
- **Wellbeing signals** - Early indicators of tenant support needs
## Feature Comparison
| Feature | Rightmove | Social Home |
|---------|-----------|-------------|
| Property advertising | ✅ | ✅ |
| Tenant search reach | ✅ | ✅ |
| Resident journey management | ❌ | ✅ |
| Case file system | ❌ | ✅ |
| Automated compliance tracking | ❌ | ✅ |
| Unified communications | ❌ | ✅ |
| Maintenance workflows | ❌ | ✅ |
| Portfolio analytics | Limited | ✅ Comprehensive |
| HMO compliance tools | ❌ | ✅ |
| Safeguarding support | ❌ | ✅ |
## Migration Guide
### Step 1: Parallel Running
Run Social Home alongside Rightmove during transition:
1. **Import your property portfolio** - Bulk upload properties, rooms, and current tenant data
2. **Set up resident journeys** - Configure onboarding workflows for new tenants
3. **Train your team** - Use our getting started guide to onboard staff
4. **Test workflows** - Process a few new tenancies through Social Home while Rightmove remains live
### Step 2: Data Migration
- **Property data** - Import all properties, rooms, and amenities
- **Tenant records** - Migrate current tenants with their history
- **Maintenance history** - Import past work orders and contractor relationships
- **Compliance documents** - Upload existing certificates and licences
### Step 3: Full Transition
Once confident with Social Home:
1. **Continue advertising on Rightmove** (if needed for reach)
2. **Process all new tenancies through Social Home** - Use Social Home for the complete tenant lifecycle
3. **Migrate existing tenants** - Gradually move current tenants to Social Home workflows
4. **Deactivate Rightmove** - When Social Home handles all your management needs
## Key Advantages
### For Property Managers
- **Complete tenant lifecycle** - From advertising to move-out, all in one system
- **Compliance confidence** - Never miss a deadline or lose a certificate
- **Time savings** - Automated workflows reduce manual admin by 60%+
### For Housing Associations
- **Safeguarding support** - Case file system tracks vulnerable residents
- **Regulatory compliance** - HMO, fire safety, and housing standards all tracked
- **Portfolio insights** - Understand which properties perform best and why
### For Social Housing Providers
- **Resident wellbeing** - Early indicators of support needs
- **Arrears prevention** - Automated reminders and payment plans
- **Service provider directory** - Find vetted contractors for repairs and support
## Frequently Asked Questions
### Can I still use Rightmove for advertising?
Yes. Social Home complements Rightmove by handling everything after a tenant finds your property. Many customers use Rightmove for reach and Social Home for management.
### How long does migration take?
Most teams complete migration in 2-4 weeks with our guided onboarding. Bulk data import takes 1-2 days, team training 3-5 days, and parallel running 1-2 weeks.
### What if I need help during migration?
Our support team provides migration assistance, data import validation, and workflow configuration. We also offer training sessions for your team.
### Does Social Home integrate with Rightmove?
Currently, Social Home operates independently. However, you can export property data from Rightmove and import it into Social Home using our bulk upload tools.
## Next Steps
1. **Explore the comparison page** - See how Social Home compares to other tools: [/compare](/compare)
2. **Read getting started guide** - Learn the basics: [/resources/getting-started](/resources/getting-started)
3. **Contact our team** - Discuss your specific 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