Zego

Rent collection that works for residents who prefer a phone, a store counter or an envelope is the idea behind Zego, the software company formerly known as PayLease. Since 2003 it has supplied homeowners associations and property management companies with tools for taking payments online, billing residents and managing utility expenses, and it says it now serves thousands of management companies and more than 11 million units across the country.

Taking rent and dues in whatever form residents choose

Residents can pay by ACH, debit card, credit card, digital wallet, a check mailed to a lockbox, or cash at a participating retail location. Whatever the route, Zego converts the payment into a digital transaction that passes into the accounting system, which it says spares staff trips to the bank and the manual handling of checks and money orders. Options such as flexible rent payments and a revenue protection suite are meant to reduce late and missed payments, and the company offers rent cycle automation along with a program aimed at moving a portfolio to fully digital payments.

An app for paying in a few taps

The resident app lets people pay rent and utilities in three taps. Paired with a companion product called Mobile Doorman, it also lets residents chat with on-site staff, manage work orders and book amenities. Zego reports every on-time payment made through its platform to the credit bureaus at no extra charge, which gives residents a way to build their credit history.

Utility invoicing from payable to statement

The utility side automates the whole billing cycle, from accounts payable through to the statements residents receive. It supports RUBS or submeter billing and is meant to improve recoupment of utility costs while saving staff time.

Portfolios of every kind

Zego works with traditional multifamily, single family, HOA, student, manufactured, build-to-rent and corporate housing. Its pages stress workflow automation, portfolio-wide visibility and better resident satisfaction and retention, including automation of renewals and work order management.