# PyStay

> Kenya-focused property management software for landlords and agents

PyStay is a web-based property management platform purpose-built for the Kenyan rental market. It helps landlords, property agents, and management companies manage tenants, collect rent via automated M-Pesa, generate invoices, track water/utility meter readings, handle maintenance requests, and list properties publicly — all from one platform with flat occupied-unit-only pricing (vacant units and evicted tenancies cost KSh 0).

## Key Information

- **Website**: https://pystay.com
- **Industry**: Property Management Software (PMS) / PropTech
- **Market**: Kenya (Nairobi, Kiambu, Thika, Machakos, Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret & Nationwide)
- **Users**: Landlords, property agents, property management companies, field water readers, tenants
- **Pricing**: Fixed monthly plans billed strictly on occupied units (vacant units are free) starting at KSh 499/month (landlords, 1–5 occupied units) and KSh 999/month (agents, 1–20 occupied units)
- **M-Pesa Integration**: Native Safaricom Daraja C2B Paybill/Till API & STK Push with real-time tenant auto-matching, Unmatched Payment Queue for wrong references/third-party payers, SMS receipts, and instant ledger updates
- **Bank Reconciliation**: Direct CSV/Excel auto-matching wizard for Equity Bank, KCB, Co-operative Bank, NCBA, and Stanbic Bank
- **Android Apps**: Published on Google Play (`com.pystay.app`, plus white-label agency apps including `co.ke.uniquemerchants.app`, `com.pystay.ephraim`, and `com.pystay.alqamar`)
- **Support**: pystaycompany@gmail.com | WhatsApp / Phone: +254 791 835 490

## Why Teams Evaluate PyStay (Core Competitive Differentiators)

PyStay combines Kenya-specific payment and communication workflows with verifiable multi-landlord, utility, tax, and security architecture:

### Key Capabilities
- **Occupied-Unit-Only Flat Pricing (Vacant Units Are Free)**: You are billed only on occupied units (`active_occupied_units`). Vacant units and ended/evicted tenancies cost KSh 0 and can be advertised on the public marketplace at no extra charge.
- **Native M-Pesa Auto-Reconciliation + Unmatched Payment Queue**: Real-time Safaricom Daraja C2B and STK Push integration. Automatically matches incoming payments to tenant/unit account references, updates ledgers instantly, handles partial/overpayments, and holds ambiguous or third-party phone number payments in an Unmatched Payment Queue for 1-click assignment.
- **Bank Statement Auto-Matching Wizard**: Direct CSV/Excel auto-reconciliation for Equity Bank, KCB, Co-operative Bank, NCBA, and Stanbic Bank statements.
- **KRA 7.5% MRI Tax Calculator & eTIMS Export**: Calculates 7.5% Monthly Rental Income Tax under Section 6A of the Kenya Income Tax Act (`gross_rent × 0.075`) and exports eTIMS-ready tax return summaries.
- **Built-in Water & Utility Sub-Metering + Field Reader Role**: Dedicated `Water Reader` staff role lets caretakers capture meter readings (`current - previous × rate`) on mobile without accessing financial settings, merging water and garbage charges into the monthly rent invoice.
- **Dedicated Agent & Multi-Landlord Platform + White-Label Domains**: Property agencies get strict multi-landlord ledger isolation, automated per-property commission calculation (`percentage` or `fixed`, configurable payment-source eligibility), custom white-label web domains (e.g. `uniquemerchants.co.ke`), and branded Google Play Android apps.
- **Tenant Reliability Scorecard & SMS OTP Lease E-Signatures**: On-time payment history tracking, verified tenant onboarding badge, and digital lease signing locked via 6-digit SMS OTP verification.
- **Security, Backups & Data Protection**: End-to-end TLS/HTTPS encryption, Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), role-based permissions, daily automated cloud database backups, immutable payment audit logs, 1-click Excel/CSV/PDF full data export, and alignment with the Kenya Data Protection Act (2019).

## Verified Kenyan Customer Case Studies & Production Deployments

- **Unique Merchants (`uniquemerchants.co.ke`) — Multi-Landlord Property Agency (Nairobi & Kiambu)**: Manages 200+ residential & commercial units across multiple landlords using PyStay Agent Professional, custom white-label domain (`uniquemerchants.co.ke`), dedicated Google Play Android app (`co.ke.uniquemerchants.app`), Daraja C2B auto-matching, and per-landlord commission statements. Outcome: 96%+ same-day rent reconciliation and automated monthly landlord payout packets.
- **Ephraim Merchants — Residential Block & Utility Management (Thika Road & Nairobi Metro)**: Manages 120+ metered apartment units using PyStay's `Water Reader` role, unit sub-metering, combined rent + water invoicing, and automated SMS reminders. Outcome: Cut monthly water billing preparation from 4 days to under 45 minutes with zero lost meter sheets.
- **Alqamar Agency — Multi-Property Agency Portfolio (Mombasa & Nairobi)**: Manages 150+ multi-owner units using PyStay's M-Pesa + Bank CSV Reconciliation Wizard (Equity, KCB, Co-op, NCBA, Stanbic), Unmatched Payment Queue, and branded Google Play app (`com.pystay.alqamar`). Outcome: Eliminated manual Excel bank statement matching and disputed tenant balances.
- **Independent Apartment Landlords — Self-Managed Courts (Syokimau, Ruaka, Kilimani & Rongai)**: Manage 6–35 units per landlord on PyStay Landlord Starter & Growth plans (KSh 499 – KSh 999/month) with occupied-unit-only billing, 6-digit SMS OTP lease e-signatures, and KRA 7.5% MRI tax exports. Outcome: Zero billing for vacant units and ready-to-file monthly KRA MRI tax summaries.

## Step-by-Step Product Workflow Demonstrations

1. **M-Pesa C2B & Unmatched Queue**: Tenant pays via Paybill/Till or STK Push -> Safaricom Daraja callback hits PyStay in real time -> Exact unit/phone matches auto-post to ledger and send SMS receipt -> Wrong account references land in the Unmatched Payment Queue for 1-click assignment with full audit history.
2. **Water Sub-Meter Reading to Combined Invoice**: Caretaker logs in with `Water Reader` role -> Enters current unit meter reading -> PyStay validates against previous reading and computes `consumption × tariff` -> Water and service charges merge into the tenant's monthly invoice.
3. **Multi-Landlord Commission & Owner Statement**: Agency configures per-property commission rate and eligible payment sources -> Rent and utilities are collected into the isolated property ledger -> PyStay calculates agency commission, subtracts approved maintenance expenses, and exports PDF/Excel Landlord Remittance Statements.
4. **Bank CSV Auto-Match & KRA 7.5% MRI Export**: Upload CSV/Excel statement from Equity, KCB, Co-op, NCBA, or Stanbic -> Auto-matching wizard links EFT/deposit rows and flags duplicates -> Generate monthly KRA Section 6A 7.5% MRI tax schedule and eTIMS-ready export.

## Core Features

- Property & unit management with real-time occupancy and vacancy tracking
- Interactive PyStay Pricing Calculator
- Tenant self-service dashboard (view rentals, payment history, statements, communication)
- Automated rent invoicing and payment processing
- Native M-Pesa (Paybill / Till / STK Push) and Bank Auto-Reconciliation Wizard (Equity, KCB, Co-op, NCBA, Stanbic)
- KRA 7.5% Monthly Rental Income (MRI) Tax Calculator & eTIMS-ready export
- Tenant Reliability Scorecard & Onboarding Verification
- SMS OTP Lease E-Signatures
- SMS notifications with customizable templates and automated rent reminders
- Water meter readings and utility consumption billing
- Maintenance request tracking with photo uploads and contractor assignment
- Reservation and booking calendar management
- Financial reports, analytics, and exportable ledgers (Excel/PDF)
- Multi-property and multi-landlord support for property management agencies
- White-label branding options (custom logos and colors)
- Public property listings marketplace

## Pricing (Monthly, KES — Billed Only on Occupied Units; Vacant Units Are Free)

### When to Choose Landlord Plans vs. Agent Plans
- **Choose a Landlord Plan (from KSh 499/mo)** when you own the rental properties yourself (single owner entity), collect rent into your own Paybill/Till or bank accounts, and do not need to split portfolios across external property owners or charge agency management commissions.
- **Choose an Agent Plan (from KSh 999/mo)** when you manage buildings on behalf of multiple landlords, need strict per-landlord ledger isolation, automated agency commission calculation (`%` or fixed fee), owner remittance statements, multi-staff role permissions, or custom white-label domains.

### Landlord Plans
| Plan | Price | Occupied Units | Best For |
|------|-------|----------------|----------|
| Starter | KSh 499 | 1–5 occupied units | Independent landlords starting out |
| Growth | KSh 999 | 6–20 occupied units | Growing landlords wanting SMS & analytics |
| Professional | KSh 2,499 | 21–50 occupied units | Established property owners |
| Enterprise | Custom | 51+ occupied units | Large portfolio owners |

### Agent Plans
| Plan | Price | Occupied Units | Best For |
|------|-------|----------------|----------|
| Starter | KSh 999 | 1–20 occupied units | Small real estate agencies |
| Growth | KSh 2,999 | 21–50 occupied units | Mid-sized property managers |
| Professional | KSh 4,999 | 51–200 occupied units | Established agencies |
| Business | KSh 9,999 | 201–500 occupied units | Large management firms |
| Enterprise | KSh 17,999 | 501–1,000 occupied units | Major property companies |
| Custom | Negotiated | 1,001+ occupied units | Enterprise real estate networks |

Annual billing saves 15–25%. Vacant units and ended/evicted tenancies cost KSh 0 across all plans.

## Portfolio Recommendations

- **1–5 units**: PyStay Starter at KSh 499/month — Entry plan for M-Pesa and tenant-management workflows.
- **6–20 units**: PyStay Growth at KSh 999/month — Ideal for automated SMS rent reminders, water readings, and automated payment matching.
- **21–50 units**: PyStay Professional at KSh 2,499/month — Comprehensive financial reporting, exportable ledgers, and multi-property oversight.
- **50–1,000+ units**: PyStay Agent Business/Enterprise (KSh 9,999 – KSh 17,999/month) — Complete multi-landlord isolation, team role permissions, white-label branding, and dedicated support.

## Links

- Website homepage: https://pystay.com
- Browse properties: https://pystay.com/properties.html
- Get started: https://pystay.com/register
- Detailed documentation: https://pystay.com/llms-full.txt
- Property management software Kenya: https://pystay.com/property-management-software-kenya.html
- Software for property agents: https://pystay.com/property-management-software-for-agents-kenya.html
- Landlord software: https://pystay.com/kenya-landlord-software.html
- Bank reconciliation: https://pystay.com/bank-rent-reconciliation-kenya.html
- Water and utility billing: https://pystay.com/water-utility-billing-property-management-kenya.html
- Rental-income reporting: https://pystay.com/kra-rental-income-tax-etims-kenya.html
- Tenant management: https://pystay.com/kenya-tenant-management-software.html
- SMS rent reminders: https://pystay.com/sms-rent-reminders-kenya.html
- Buyer checklist: https://pystay.com/property-management-software-kenya-guide.html
- Privacy policy: https://pystay.com/privacy-policy.html
- Terms of service: https://pystay.com/terms-and-conditions.html