Why you should NOT have a WhatsApp group for your HMO housemates and what to do instead - a podcast by Stephanie Taylor & Nicky Taylor

026 - Why could WhatsApp ruin your life? Of course you will need a way to communicate with your housemates if you are managing your properties.


But I’d caution you very strongly from creating a WhatsApp group for your tenants which you are also a member of. 

People love convenience.
I do myself. 
I WhatsApp Nicky or Luke to ask a question I could easily find out in a second in Arthur. 
But it seems like it’s easier to message.

WhatsApp is an instant messenger.
Which implies instant replies.
And that’s why I believe that it’s not the way to communicate with your housemates.

And if they have you on WhatsApp, they’ll ask you on WhatsApp about the electricity not working rather than look at something downstairs at the box.

They’ll involve you in petty bickering with each other.
That you definitely should not be involved in.

Most of your communication should not be instant.

For example let’s say you have 10 tenants. 
With WhatsApp 10 tenants can contact you 247 and expect an instant reply. 

And more than anything, people expect an instant answer on WhatsApp in a way that they don’t with email. 

They can see whether you’ve read the message and it's just a little bit too 247. 

Most letting agents are available 9-5 and I suggest that unless there’s an emergency, you aim for that too.

Maybe that is manageable for you. 
But what if you have 50 tenants or 100 tenants.

The best way is to have a place where you check for none-urgent messages. 

So rather than get disturbed 10 times in a day, you choose the time to go in and action what needs to be actioned.

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