We spoke to Ellie Bardwell, MARLA, Director of Existing Business, to understand how Goodlord helped CJ Hole automate manual processes and prepare for the Renters’ Rights Bill.
The problem: Cumbersome manual processes and compliance
Before partnering with Goodlord, CJ Hole had a couple of key objectives.
Ellie explains: “We were looking for a technology partner who could help us improve our customer journey and streamline our lettings process.”
Repetitive manual tasks and unconnected platforms slowed down tenancy processing, frustrating CJ Hole’s internal team and customer base.
“One of our core values is to stay ahead of the curve,” Ellie says. That’s why adopting a digital solution that could help to automate these processes made sense.
With the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Bill, Ellie also recognised that any new tech partner needed to help CJ Hole adapt to upcoming legislation.
“The Renters’ Rights Bill is going to be a different beast, but we’re doing everything we can to stay on top of the changes,” Ellie adds.
After assessing the options on the market, CJ Hole identified Goodlord as the ideal solution to modernise their agency, enhance their services, and streamline their processes.
The solution: End-to-end lettings software, combined with Rent Protection Insurance
Goodlord onboards tenants by sending them mandatory documentation and an email inviting them to start their journey.
After the tenant onboarding process, referencing starts. CJ Hole now finds this process faster and more efficient than ever, as Ellie outlines.
“The journey is easier for tenants, who no longer need to log into multiple platforms, speeding up the move-in process.”
After tenants pass the referencing stage, Goodlord sends out tenancy agreements, allowing CJ Hole to quickly progress to the contract signing stage.
Centralising contract creation and renewals has reduced reliance on multiple systems, creating a seamless tenancy journey that the agency’s team can count on. “We save time and, therefore, money,” says Ellie.
Goodlord’s Rent Protection Insurance offers extra support to CJ Hole. It:
- Has a £100,000 limit of indemnity
- Covers landlords if tenants don’t pay their rent until vacant possession
- Pursues tenants on your behalf to recover outstanding rent
And much more. Ellie explains: “The rent protection package is good value for money and offers additional security to our landlords. This really resonates with our clients, given the backdrop of the Renters’ Rights Bill.”
By combining Goodlord’s technology with its insurance offering, CJ Hole’s team now delivers streamlined and more comprehensive services to its clients.
Product spotlight: PRO delivers quality referencing at speed
Goodlord’s PRO Referencing service has transformed how CJ Hole handles tenant checks by delivering fast, accurate, and transparent results.
“PRO’s turnaround times are genuine,” Ellie says. “Our references are completed in under 24 hours, with a very high pass rate. We trust PRO’s data because we get far fewer false fails than previously.”
Income checks through Open Banking, HMRC, and payroll providers enable this.
“Now, when a reference fails, we know it’s because we’ve done our job and mitigated risk on behalf of the landlord,” Ellie continues.
And this has helped to deliver significant results. “Our ability to convert a marketed property to a signed agreement was the quickest and most successful we've had."
Conclusion
By onboarding Goodlord, CJ Hole has improved its existing service while future-proofing its processes.
Ellie says: “Our agents want an all-in-one solution, and Goodlord is achieving that through its core platform, PRO referencing, and Rent Protection Insurance.”
“I’m confident that we’re in a good position to adapt to upcoming legislation because Goodlord always listens to us. Because they understand the industry, they’re not afraid to pivot to help letting agents with the challenges they face. No other company does that.”
