RentAlert

RentAlert is a minimalist rent-reminder application that enables landlords to track tenant rent status and send automated SMS/Email reminders to unpaid tenants monthly. The system eliminates manual WhatsApp reminder chaos through a simple toggle-based interface and automated messaging workflows.

Core Principles

- Simplicity first: Manual landlord control over rent status, minimal automation complexity
- Landlord-only access: No tenant login portal (reduces scope and complexity)
- Usage-driven iteration: Non-intrusive monitoring to understand feature adoption and user behavior
- Mobile-first design: Primary interface optimized for mobile devices
- Privacy-conscious: Anonymous observation of usage patterns without exposing tenant PII

Key Features

Landlord Account Management: Registration and login via Clerk, profile settings, role-based access

Property Management: Create, edit, delete properties with details and tenant linking

Tenant Management: Manual tenant entry, CSV bulk import, edit/delete records, track rent status (Paid/Unpaid)

Monthly Rent Cycle: Landlord receives monthly prompt, dashboard with status toggles, "Send Reminders" button for unpaid tenants

Reminder Messaging: SMS delivery via Africa's Talking, email delivery via SendGrid, customizable message templates

Admin Panel: View total landlords, tenants, reminder sends, active landlords, usage patterns, feedback submissions

Feedback Collection: In-app modal with optional rating (1-5 stars), anonymous or named submissions

Usage Monitoring: Event logging for login, tenant adds, reminder sends, status updates (non-intrusive)

Security: JWT sessions via Clerk, role-based access control, HTTPS/TLS encryption

Success Criteria

- Delivery reliability: ≥95% SMS delivery rate via Africa's Talking
- User engagement: 60%+ of landlords interact with system monthly
- Active retention: 70%+ of landlords mark rent status at least once per month
- Feedback volume: 40%+ of users submit feedback within first 90 days
- System uptime: 99%+ availability during business hours (8am-10pm EAT)

System Constraints

- Landlord limit: Maximum 50 properties per landlord (MVP)
- Tenant limit: Maximum 200 tenants per landlord
- Reminder frequency: Once per month per tenant
- File upload: CSV max 5MB, max 500 rows
- Supported regions: Uganda (primary), Kenya, Tanzania
- Languages: English only (Luganda in V2)