House Hunt, a student lettings agency based in Selly Oak, Birmingham, has implemented Alto’s property management CRM system to replace manual processes and fragmented data management.
The agency, which operates near the University of Birmingham, manages a portfolio of over 1,000 properties, with around 300 currently under management. The majority of its portfolio consists of houses in multiple occupation (HMO) student lets.
Operational challenges
According to Kiran Bhogal, Branch Manager at House Hunt, the agency’s previous operating model had become unsustainable as the business expanded. “All of our information was effectively in different places, or in people’s heads,” Bhogal said. “If two or three people are away, we have a problem. We needed a system where everyone can access everything and work from the same source of truth.”
The agency identified operational risks tied to manual processes and data held across multiple systems, with key information dependent on specific team members. This fragmented approach created vulnerabilities in day-to-day operations.
Compliance requirements
The decision to implement the new CRM platform was driven by several factors, including the need to improve efficiency, enable cross-departmental collaboration, and support planned expansion into residential lettings and sales. Compliance automation was particularly relevant given the high proportion of HMO properties in the portfolio and associated regulatory requirements.
The move reflects broader challenges in the rental sector, where operational and compliance risks continue to affect agencies managing student accommodation and HMO properties.
Nick Shaw, Chief Revenue Officer at Alto, said: “House Hunt is a great example of a fast-growing agency reaching the point where systems and processes need to catch up with ambition. Moving from spreadsheets and fragmented workflows to a single platform is a pivotal step, especially in a compliance-heavy environment like student HMOs.”
Market context
The student lettings market in Birmingham remains a significant sector, with Selly Oak being one of the primary areas for student accommodation due to its proximity to the University of Birmingham. The implementation of integrated property management systems is becoming increasingly common among agencies managing large portfolios, particularly as regulatory requirements for HMO properties continue to evolve.
House Hunt is currently in the onboarding phase, with the aim of embedding the platform across all departments to create what the agency describes as a more resilient and scalable operation.
