Frequently asked questions
Straight answers. No waffle.
What is Doorkeep?
Doorkeep is a property management tool built for UK landlords with 1–10 properties. It covers everything the Renters' Rights Act throws at you — pet request tracking, Section 13 rent increases, proof-of-service records — plus compliance reminders, HMRC submission, bank statement import, rent tracking, and tenant issue reporting. One dashboard instead of five different spreadsheets.
Who is it for?
Self-managing landlords with 1–10 properties. If you're currently using spreadsheets, WhatsApp, and a notebook, Doorkeep replaces all three.
How does tenant issue reporting work?
Each property gets a unique link you share with your tenants. They open it, describe the issue, pick a category, add photos, and submit. No app to download, no account to create. You get notified and can track the issue through to resolution.
Do my tenants need to create an account?
No. Tenants use a simple link — no login, no app, no signup. They fill in a form and that's it. Lower friction means they actually use it.
What compliance certificates does it track?
Gas Safety, EICR, EPC, PAT testing, fire risk assessments, legionella checks, and deposit protection. Doorkeep reminds you at 60, 30, and 7 days before expiry so nothing slips through the cracks. For EPCs, Doorkeep also alerts you if your certificate expires after 1 October 2029 — when the new Home Energy Model grading system takes effect — so you can renew under the current system before the rules change.
Can Doorkeep help me serve the RRA Information Sheet?
Yes. Doorkeep fetches the actual GOV.UK PDF at the time of sending and attaches it to a branded email to each tenant. It doesn't send a link — it sends the real file. Every send is logged in your Evidence Vault with the recipient, timestamp, and confirmation the PDF was attached. If the GOV.UK PDF can't be fetched, the email is blocked — never sent without the document. You can also record hand-delivered or posted copies.
What is the Evidence Vault?
The Evidence Vault is your audit trail. Every time you serve a document, log a compliance action, respond to a pet request, or send an RRA Information Sheet, Doorkeep records it with a timestamp, the recipient, the method of delivery, and what was sent. If a local authority contacts you or a tenant disputes anything, you can export the full record as proof. Think of it as your defence file — built automatically as you use Doorkeep.
How does Form 4A rent increase validation work?
Under the Renters' Rights Act, the only way to increase rent is through a Section 13 notice using the new Form 4A. Doorkeep checks the 12-month protection period (no increase in the first year), enforces the 12-month cooldown between increases, calculates the earliest valid effective date based on the 2-month notice period, and aligns it to your tenant's rent period start date. If any rule would be breached, Doorkeep flags it before you serve the notice. You still complete Form 4A yourself — Doorkeep handles the timing validation.
How do pet requests work in Doorkeep?
Under the RRA, tenants can request to keep a pet and landlords have 28 days to respond. If you don't respond in time, consent is deemed given. Doorkeep tracks the clock from the moment a request is logged, warns you at 14 and 7 days, and records your response (approve, approve with conditions, or refuse with reason) in the Evidence Vault. If a tenant later disputes your decision, you have dated proof of what you said and when.
Can I import bank statements?
Yes. Upload a CSV bank statement and Doorkeep matches transactions to expected rent payments automatically. It supports major UK banks including Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, NatWest, Santander, Starling, Monzo, and Tide. Matched payments are recorded against the relevant property so you can see arrears and income at a glance.
What is the PRS Database readiness score?
The PRS Database is expected to launch in late 2026. Landlords will need to register their properties before they can serve valid possession notices. Doorkeep scores each property against the expected registration requirements — landlord details, property type, bedrooms, UPRN, compliance certificates, deposit protection, and active tenants. The score shows you what's missing before the database opens so you're not scrambling when it goes live.
Can I submit to HMRC through Doorkeep?
Coming soon. We're finalising HMRC production credentials now — once live, you'll connect your Government Gateway account and submit your quarterly MTD updates directly from Doorkeep. In the meantime, you can download CSV summaries of your income and expenses and submit through other HMRC-compatible software. Your rent income and expenses are already mapped to HMRC categories automatically. MTD for Income Tax is live for landlords earning over £50k from April 2026, with £30k and £20k thresholds following in 2027 and 2028.
How much does it cost?
Starter is £5.99/month for 1–2 properties. Standard is £9.99/month for up to 5 properties. Pro is coming soon at £19.99/month — it will include HMRC direct submission, Open Banking, AI tools, and priority support. You can try Starter or Standard for 99p for the first month. Cancel anytime — no contracts, no hidden fees.
Is there a free trial?
You can try Doorkeep for 99p for the first month — full access to everything. After that it's £5.99 or £9.99/mo depending on your plan. Cancel anytime.
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes. Cancel whenever you like from your billing page. Your data stays available until the end of your billing period, and you can export everything before you go. Your data is yours.
Is my data secure?
Your data is stored in a secure, encrypted database. Authentication is handled by Clerk, and payments by Stripe — both are industry-standard providers trusted by thousands of businesses.
How is Doorkeep different from COHO, Hammock, or Arthur?
COHO and Arthur are built for landlords with larger portfolios and charge accordingly — COHO starts at around £30/month. Hammock focuses on bookkeeping and MTD but doesn't handle tenant issues, compliance, or day-to-day operations. None of them offer a full RRA Compliance Hub — pet request deadlines, Section 13 rent increase validation, Evidence Vault, or tribunal pack generation. Doorkeep is built specifically for self-managing landlords with 1–5 properties who need to stay compliant without paying letting-agent prices.
Can I track rent payments and arrears?
Yes. Record monthly rent payments per property, track what's been received against what's expected, and see arrears at a glance on your property dashboard.
Does it handle property inspections?
Yes. Log inspections with dates, condition notes, photos, and actions required. Doorkeep tracks periodic, check-in, check-out, compliance, and licensing inspections — and reminds you when the next one is due.
What about the EPC changes in 2029?
Any valid EPC registered before 1 October 2029 under the current grading system will be treated as compliant until it expires — even if the property is below a C. After that date, the new Home Energy Model system applies and standards will be stricter. Doorkeep flags any EPC that expires after this date so you can renew early and lock in your current rating.
I've got a question that isn't here.
Drop us a line at hello@doorkeep.co.uk. We're a small team and we actually reply.