Simora takes everything off the estate agent's plate — inspections, maintenance, tenant comms, banking, compliance — so they can focus on growing their portfolio. SaaS meets managed services.
The SA rental market is fragmented. Agents are drowning in admin, inspections, maintenance calls, and compliance. Simora doesn't just give them a dashboard — it takes the work away entirely.
Red Rabbit dominates inspections. PropControl handles listings. PayProp processes payments. But nobody offers the full stack — software, services, and compliance — under one roof. That's Simora's lane.
Pure software is a commodity. Simora is a tech-enabled service partner: we build the platform, run the operations, and handle the compliance so agents can focus on what makes them money — closing deals.
Offline-capable mobile for bad signal areas. WhatsApp-first tenant comms. Pre-paid meter integration. CPA-compliant lease templates. FICA vaults. Every feature is designed for how SA rental actually works.
The current SA property tech market is fragmented into niche tools. Simora brings it all together.
Strong mobile inspection tool with photo documentation and checklists. Widely used by agencies for ingoing/outgoing reports. Decent maintenance ticketing.
Full agency management with property listings, mandate tracking, and basic financial reporting. Geared towards the agency workflow rather than the tenant lifecycle.
Trusted third-party payment processor handling trust accounts, automated distributions, and landlord settlements. Regulatory-compliant and audit-ready.
A centralized web portal for agents and landlords, with a mobile app for inspectors and tenants. Each module solves a real, painful problem.
The backbone of the platform. Automated lease generation using TPN/CPA-compliant templates, FICA document vaults (POPIA encrypted), and smart reminders for renewals and CPI escalations.
The "Red Rabbit Killer." A mobile-first, offline-capable inspection tool with side-by-side comparison views, timestamped/geotagged photos, digital signatures, and room-by-room checklists.
A full helpdesk for property maintenance. Tenants log issues via the app or WhatsApp (with photo/video), the system auto-triages urgency, generates job cards, and tracks status end-to-end.
Automated monthly statements to landlords and tenants. Bank statement reconciliation matching reference numbers. Arrears detection with automated Letters of Demand (legal templates) at day 7.
The big value prop: Simora acts as the TPPP. Tenants pay us, we strip our fee + maintenance costs, settle the landlord. This eliminates the need for agents to run their own audit-heavy trust accounts.
The Uber model for property maintenance. A vetted contractor database by suburb, negotiated standard call-out fees, and a fully managed dispatch workflow. We assess, dispatch, verify, pay, and invoice.
Don't force tenants to download an app. Build a WhatsApp Business API chatbot where tenants can pull their latest invoice, log maintenance tickets (with photos), get payment details, and receive reminders.
Vision AI analyses tenant-submitted photos to auto-detect issues (mould → leak detection specialist, not a general plumber). Plus a tenant marketplace: moving insurance, fibre signups, cleaning services — all commission-generating.
You cannot build a property platform in South Africa without strict adherence to these laws. This is where compliance responsibility sits, and what each means for Simora.
We're holding IDs, bank details, addresses, and lease documents. The database must be encrypted at rest and in transit. Every tenant signup flow must include explicit, informed consent forms. Data retention policies must be defined and enforced. A designated Information Officer must be appointed.
If Simora handles money (acting as TPPP), strict trust account regulations apply. Registration as a Payment Processing Agent is required. Annual audits, fidelity fund certificates, and strict record-keeping. This is the highest complexity, highest risk compliance requirement.
The system must enforce FICA document uploads (ID, proof of address, bank confirmation) before a lease can be generated. No bypassing, no exceptions. This protects both the agent and Simora from non-compliance penalties.
All lease templates and defect disclosure forms must be CPA-compliant. Tenants have rights to fair terms, transparent pricing, and clear defect disclosures. Simora's legal templates must be reviewed by a property attorney before going live.
Every startup faces friction. These are the real risks and how we'd approach mitigating each one.
If Simora processes payments (acting as TPPP), it falls under PPRA trust account regulations. This requires registration, annual audits, fidelity fund certificates, and strict segregation of funds. Getting this wrong can shut you down.
Phase the payment module. Launch with PayProp or Sage integration first (let them carry the compliance), then self-register once revenue justifies the cost. Engage a property compliance attorney from day one.
Agents are creatures of habit. They're already using Red Rabbit, PropControl, PayProp, and spreadsheets. Convincing them to migrate to Simora means proving the combined value exceeds the switching pain.
Offer a "managed migration" service — Simora handles the data import. Start with 3–5 pilot agencies (friends, network) and build case studies. The "we do it for you" angle is the killer differentiator. Lead with the service, not the software.
Offline-capable mobile apps require local databases, sync engines, and conflict resolution. WhatsApp Business API has approval requirements, session limits, and template message rules. Both are non-trivial.
Use a proven offline-first framework (SQLite + background sync). For WhatsApp, use a certified BSP (Business Solution Provider) like Twilio or MessageBird rather than building the integration from scratch. Phase WhatsApp into Phase 2/3.
The managed maintenance model (vetting plumbers, dispatching, paying) is operationally heavy. One bad contractor ruins trust. Scaling this across suburbs and cities is a logistics challenge on top of a tech one.
Start in one metro (Johannesburg). Vet 10–15 contractors per trade. Build the rating/feedback system early. Don't go national until the contractor ops are tight. Consider partnering with an existing contractor marketplace initially.
A SaaS + managed services model has high upfront build costs and a slow ramp to recurring revenue. You need the platform built, the service team operational, and enough clients to cover costs — all before the model sustains itself.
Bootstrap Phase 1 with the PixelCore dev capacity. Charge for onboarding/setup fees upfront to offset early costs. Target 20–30 agencies as the break-even point. Consider pre-selling annual contracts at a discount to de-risk cash flow.
The idea of deducting arrears from pre-paid electricity purchases is legally complex and potentially challengeable under CPA. Consumer protection law heavily favours tenants in SA, and automating punitive actions carries litigation risk.
Park this feature entirely until you have a property attorney sign off on the specific implementation. It's a "nice to have" that could become a liability. Focus on voluntary payment arrangements and standard arrears processes first.
Beyond what's in the spec — a few recommendations to accelerate traction and de-risk the build.
When you pitch Simora, don't demo a dashboard. Say: "Tell me your three biggest headaches. We'll handle them by next Monday." The platform is the engine, but the pitch is the outcome — agents getting their weekends back.
Before writing a single lease template, before touching trust accounts, before going live. PPRA, CPA, POPIA, FICA — the legal surface area is large. A retainer with a property-specialist firm (not a generalist) is non-negotiable.
Integrate with TPN or TransUnion early. Automated credit checks during tenant onboarding add immediate value and reduce agent workload. This is a feature that justifies the subscription alone for many agencies.
Let solo agents manage up to 10 properties free. They experience the platform, build dependency, and upgrade when their portfolio grows. This is how you build a pipeline without a sales team.
Let larger agencies skin the tenant portal with their own branding. Simora operates the backend, the agency looks like the innovator. This removes ego-resistance from adoption — they're not "switching to Simora," they're "launching their own portal."
Landlords are the ones paying rent. Give them a real-time dashboard showing property status, maintenance history, financial summaries, and inspection reports. Happy landlords = retained mandates = retained agents = retained Simora subscriptions.
Pricing needs further discussion, but here are the three models worth considering — they're not mutually exclusive.
Note: Pricing hasn't been finalised. This section outlines the viable models to discuss. The strongest approach is likely a hybrid — a base SaaS fee per unit plus a percentage on managed services (maintenance, payments). This aligns revenue with value delivered.
Charge per property under management, per month. Scales naturally as agents grow their portfolio. Simple to understand, predictable revenue. Common in the market (Red Rabbit, PropControl use variants of this).
Take a small percentage (1–3%) of all rent processed through Simora. Aligns your revenue directly with the agent's revenue. Higher trust requirement, but very scalable. Only viable once you're registered as a TPPP.
Flat fee per maintenance call dispatched, or a markup on contractor costs. Agents pay for the convenience of Simora handling the headache. This is the most defensible margin — you're selling time, not software.
Built on proven, maintainable technologies. No trend-chasing. Every choice is deliberate.
Five distinct user types, each with their own access level, portal, and permissions.
Full platform control. User management, billing, system config, compliance oversight. This is Simora's internal ops team.
Primary customer. Manages properties, views reports, triggers inspections, approves maintenance. Their dashboard is the core product.
Read-only dashboard. Property status, financial summaries, inspection reports, maintenance history. Visibility builds trust.
Simplified app + WhatsApp access. Log maintenance, download invoices, view lease, upload FICA docs. Friction-free.
Receives job cards, uploads "after" photos, confirms completion. Rated by tenants and agents. Gets paid through Simora.
Ship value early, expand strategically. Each phase builds on the last and unlocks new revenue streams.
User roles and auth, property/lease administration, the inspection module (offline mobile app), maintenance ticketing with photo uploads, and basic financial statements. This is the MVP that agencies can start using. Deploy to 3–5 pilot agencies.
Integrate PayProp (or build own TPPP if registered). Launch managed maintenance with vetted contractors in Johannesburg. Bank reconciliation, automated arrears management, landlord dashboards. This is where the "we do it for you" pitch comes alive.
WhatsApp Business API integration for tenant comms. AI-driven maintenance photo triage. Tenant marketplace (insurance, fibre, cleaning — commission model). Pre-paid meter integration. Expand contractor network to Cape Town and Durban.
White-label offering for large agencies. Public API for third-party integrations. National contractor coverage. Predictive maintenance using property data. Explore partnerships with banks and insurance providers.
Before a single line of code, these are the foundational items that need to be in place across legal, business, and technical tracks.
Property attorney retainer — CPA-compliant lease templates, PPRA guidance, POPIA policies
Company registration — Simora (Pty) Ltd, CIPC registration, tax clearance
POPIA Information Officer — Designate and register with the Information Regulator
PPRA registration research — Determine if Phase 1 requires registration or if PayProp integration defers it
Terms of Service & Privacy Policy — For agents, landlords, and tenants (attorney drafted)
Contractor agreements — SLA templates, liability clauses, payment terms
Pricing model decision — Per-unit, percentage, managed fee, or hybrid
3–5 pilot agencies secured — Committed agencies for beta testing (friends/network first)
Brand identity finalised — Logo, colour palette, tone of voice, domain name
Competitive deep dive — Hands-on testing of Red Rabbit, PropControl, PayProp
Operational playbook — Who handles what? Maintenance triage process, escalation paths
Financial model — Break-even analysis, runway estimation, pricing sensitivity
Technical spec document — Architecture, database schema, API contracts, auth model
Azure subscription + CI/CD — Cloud infrastructure, DevOps pipelines, staging/prod environments
Design system — Component library, colour tokens, typography scale, responsive breakpoints
Mobile framework decision — Flutter confirmed? Offline sync architecture designed?
WhatsApp BSP selection — Twilio, MessageBird, or other certified provider
SSL, encryption, backup strategy — POPIA-grade data protection from day one
One platform, not six — agents currently juggle inspections, maintenance, payments, comms, and compliance across disconnected tools. Simora consolidates everything.
We do it, not just track it — the managed services layer (maintenance dispatch, payment processing) is the moat. Software can be copied. Operations can't.
South Africa-first — offline mobile, WhatsApp comms, CPA templates, POPIA vaults, pre-paid meter integration. Every feature is built for how the SA rental market actually operates.
Revenue scales with clients — per-unit fees + managed service margins + marketplace commissions. Multiple revenue streams that compound as the agent portfolio grows.
Built by builders — PixelCore brings the technical muscle. Simone brings the property domain. The combination is the unfair advantage.
The foundation is clear. The market is ready. The next step is to sit down, finalise pricing, lock in the legal track, and start building Phase 1.