Local knowledge and real estate is your expertise. Scaling your brokerage with fewer headcount and less headache is ours.
Hemlane enables you to run a profitable and scalable property management division without running into the pitfalls that most brokerages experience. With 24/7 support and streamlined workflows, we make it easy to run your business efficiently.
Here are some best practices to help you get started:
✅ Pick the Right Hemlane Package
Most brokerages thrive on our Essential or Complete package. These offer automation where it matters and real people when it counts.
👉 How to change your subscription package per property
👥 Onboard Your Rental Owner Clients
Add clients under the Your Team tab in the top right of your Hemlane dashboard.
🔗 Step-by-step guide to adding owners, leasing agents, and admins
Pro tip: Invite every rental owner and customize their visibility. This gives them control over their banking info (required for rent collection and repair approval) and protects you from managing funds directly.
Below is the recommended setup for your clients. We often find that giving them a bit more visibility into Maintenance & Repair will ensure they know you are taking good care of their investment property.
💸 Set Up Your Management Fees
Navigate to Financials → Management Fees to configure:
-
Monthly management fees
-
Late fee splits
- Thresholds for repairs
This is where you get paid—make sure it’s set up from day one.
💰 Who Gets the Rent?
Forget trust accounts. With Hemlane:
-
Rent goes directly to the rental owner
-
Your management fee is split off and routed to you automatically
It’s cleaner. It’s safer. It’s smarter.
🛠 Who Pays for Repairs?
Short answer: The rental owner.
No need to float repair costs or keep an owner reserve. Hemlane’s system:
-
Routes repair approvals through your thresholds
-
Sends payments directly from the owner's account
- Uses single use credit cards and other best practices for safely paying bills
- Uploads the invoice from the service professional
- Accounts for the expense in the owner's reports
Clients love the transparency and control. You’ll love the reduced liability. Just remember, you need to be on the Essential or Complete package to take advantage of this feature.
🔁 Getting Reimbursed for Misc Expenses?
Go to Financials → Request Money and submit a reimbursement request. Simple as that.
🏦 Accepting Cash or Offline Payments?
Online payments are best for everyone, as Hemlane offers free ACH rent payments, can help boost the tenant's credit score, offers a secure and transparent way to pay rent. But, we know that’s not always possible, especially as some states require you to offer offline payment methods.
If a tenant insists on cash, try to guide them to use Chime or Green Dot Bank online:
🔗 How do I Pay Rent with Cash Using Green Dot or Chime Card? – Hemlane Support Center
🏢 Managing Section 8 Tenants?
Section 8 funds should go directly to the rental owner from the housing agency. Try not to become the middleman. Learn more about recording Section 8 payments here.
💡 Pro tip: Increase the Management Fee in the Financials tab to deduct the full management fee from the tenant’s portion.
💡 Who Handles Utilities?
During vacancy: The rental owner should activate utilities in their name (most utility providers offer a "landlord account" for this purpose).
When tenant-occupied:
-
One meter or sub-metered: Utilities should be in the tenant's name.
-
Multi-unit, no metering: Follow local laws and outline flat rates or prorated costs in the lease.
📄 HOA Dues, Insurance & Other Bills?
Your clients should set up automatic payments directly with the provider for recurring bills. We recommend you do not pay these on their behalf to avoid:
-
Extra accounting overhead
-
Onboarding complexity
-
Legal entanglements
Final Takeaway: Keep It Lean, Secure, and Scalable
Following these best practices means:
-
No reserve accounts to manage
-
No trust account obligations, except for security deposits
-
No unnecessary liabilities
Hemlane is designed to keep your brokerage profitable, professional, and focused on what matters—growth.