SMS Text Messaging for Housing Associations
Improving communication with residents is a key priority for most Housing Trusts and since more than 80% of the population carry a mobile phone, there is no better, cheaper or more immediate way to keep in touch and up to date with residents, than through SMS text messaging.
The ability to contact all mobile phone carrying residents at once, at one twentieth of the cost of writing and posting a letter, is invaluable. With our two-way SMS solutions, residents can also text back a reply, or use the service to ask a question, bid on housing, raise a complaint or notify the association of any relevant issues. These inbound text messages can be set to auto-route to the correct recipient's text or email inbox.
Text messaging opens up a huge number of possibilities for improved communication for all businesses and organisations, we've listed a few ideas for Housing Associations below, but the list really is endless.
- Rent reminders
- Maintenance reminders and retrieving instant feedback on repairs
- Notification of forthcoming events
- Inbound questions/queries from residents
Improved communication also means that with both residents and contractors being reminded of meetings, time and money is saved by avoiding missed appointments. And whilst there is no hard evidence that SMS reminders are the cause, since installing Text Message Server, a number of our customers are seeing improvements in rent payments being made on time.
Text Message Server works with almost all third-party applications and solutions and messages can be sent and received via ANY standard email software, so minimal training, if any, is required. Alternatively, we can custom-build a system with you, or provide an API for development and integration. Very little user training is required (none if you opt for email integration) and the ROI is quantifiable.
For more information, please see the links in the menu above, or phone us on 01962 835053.
St. Christopher's - Using Inbound and Outbound SMS for Supervision, Support and Maintenance.
St Christopher's is a registered charity, founded in 1870 to provide shelter for homeless young people in London. Over the past 135 years, the charity has grown to be one of the main providers of support for abused, neglected
and deprived children, young people and vulnerable adults in the capital.
After a very successful pilot test of Text Message Server, residents in St Christopher's supported housing properties, or recipients of 'floating support' and personal advisory services, can now use SMS to request supervision, ask questions or report maintenance issues. The organisation also typically uses text reminders for support sessions, deadlines (eg. housing benefit claims), rental payments due and to update tenants on maintenance work.