Managing rental real estate can be both time and resource consuming. The ever-evolving smart building technology and the right tools help create peace of mind for the property owner and the house manager while saving valuable time and money. A consistent overview of what’s happening in the building, the activities of the tenant and preventative maintenance ensure the quality and longevity of the rental property. 

The heating and lighting connected to the booking system work automatically and needs-based 

When the customer arrives, a warm and comfortable room will be waiting for them with the lights on. A presence sensor helps ensure lower heating and electricity costs by understanding the tenant has not been at the apartment for some time, or the apartment has not been booked, thus the heating will automatically be set to a lower temperature. 

Avoid shocking heating costs and set a specific temperature range for the rental apartment

By setting a specific temperature range in the rooms, the tenant won’t be able to raise the room temperature unnecessarily high. For example, if the range is set to 21-23 degrees and the room temperature is significantly higher than that, the system will be informed and a message will be sent to the house manager. In that case, it’s possible some other heater is being used to heat the room (e.g. an electric fan) and too high electricity bills can be expected, or the heating collector has been tampered with (for example, the motor has been removed).

Needs-based ventilation led by the CO2 level helps keep the costs low

Smartly managed ventilation works based on need and receives the input needed to change the operating speed from a CO2 sensor. When no one is home, the ventilation operates at the minimum speed (approx. 20%). Once more people enter the room and the CO2 level rises, the ventilation will automatically and smoothly adjust its speed to be faster and slower later on. The biggest energy savings come from the needs-based and smooth controlling of the ventilation. There’s also no need to open the windows in a well-ventilated room, which again helps save on the cost of heating.

Smart lighting – lower electricity costs

Needs-based lighting helps save energy and if there’s an entire rental building to manage, the conserving of energy can be guaranteed by the automatic and needs-based controlling of the corridor lighting by motion and lux sensors. When people enter the building the lamps will light up. When there’s no one in the room they will turn off or stay on, operating at only 20% when it’s dark.

The Bisly window sensor or magnet is a small but important helper

An open window will inevitably increase heating costs. Thanks to the information received from the window sensor, cooling will automatically be turned off and, a few minutes later, ventilation and heating as well. A warning message (if necessary by audio) will be displayed on the Bisly screen for the customer, stating that the window has been opened and the heating has been switched off. In case the window has been open for a longer period, the house manager will be notified as well.

The Bisly UMS presence sensor

The smart presence sensor creates several additional possibilities. When people are not in the room, for example, the room temperature can be lowered and the lights can be switched off, or, similarly to a hotel, electricity can be switched off via power outlets.

You can be sure there’s no other people in the room

Both the CO2 sensor and the newest Bisly UMS IR-matrix sensor can be used to help detect the number of people in the room and react if necessary. In case of a short-term rental, the owner of the apartment can be sure that there are no more people present at the apartment than allowed, and no parties are being thrown. In order to keep costs under control, it is wise to know that there’s not more people consuming water and electricity than allowed.

Water leak sensor

In the event of a water leak, the building manager will be notified by the system. To minimize the leak damage, the water main tap will immediately be automatically closed. This will provide confidence regarding the preservation of property for both the property owner as well as the tenant.

Monthly readings and displaying the consumption information

A regular overview of the consumption of energy allows the tenant to be billed based on the real cost. If both electricity and water consumption are also included in the rent and reasonable consumption is stipulated in the contract, it is important that the tenant is not wasting water and electricity. The building manager will receive notifications in case of disproportionately high costs. For example, if someone is heating the room with an electric fan or is”humidifying the air” via the hot water running from the tap, the manager can react and bill the tenant for additional costs.

Influencing a tenant who has broken the rules

If the tenant has not paid rent or has violated the rules, their options can be restricted — the temperature in the apartment can be lowered or the electricity and lights turned off. It’s possible to set a specific time frame for the tenant during which they can come and collect their personal belongings from the apartment.

The Bisly wall control screen – the new generation tenant is expecting an all-in-one solution

We recommend installing the Bisly wall screens in rental apartments. They make it convenient to communicate with the tenant as messages can be sent quickly and without any contact. It’s also possible to display additional services on the screen — request a cleaning person, order dry cleaning or contact a food courier. The tenant can manage their rental apartment via the screen and won’t have to download a separate app on their phone. 

Security ensured by smart locks

Security is important for both the tenant and the owner of the apartment. To make sure only people entitled to go through the doors get to do so, it’s best to use smart locks. Smart locks can be set as needed and for a specific time period. For example, the cleaning people can only enter the apartment during a certain time range. 

It’s also convenient to be able to open the door remotely — for the tenant to inspect the apartment, or for a food courier or a cleaning professional. If there’s been a numeric code created for the tenant to open the doors, and they have also requested access to the gym and the laundry room, the same code can be used to open all the necessary doors. 

An intelligent building system also helps ensure security, because in case something goes missing from the building or there’s a need to find out who was the last one to open the door, relevant information can be obtained from the system log.

Manage and control functions conveniently via a single app

All of the functions of the building can easily be controlled by using a single app. The control panel of the building gathers the monitoring, management and administration of the entire building into one convenient and logical online environment, where the building manager can enjoy an overview of what’s happening in the building. In the online management environment of the building various building appliances can be set up, information regarding errors and stops can be collected, energy consumption and maintenance schedules can be monitored, users can be given rights and accesses and information regarding unpaid bills can be obtained. 

A smart parking lot

The parking area opens automatically thanks to the function of number recognition. The tenant can change the car number by themselves on the Bisly control screen or in the phone app, and thus easily enter the area with a rental car as well. That way, there’s always a parking spot guaranteed for the person who has ordered it.