Setting Up Your Complete Rental Portfolio

Migrating from spreadsheets into a professional property management system is a big step. If you manage multiple properties, doing this systematically saves you hours and prevents errors.

This guide outlines the optimal approach to building out a large portfolio in Landager. We call it the "Layer Cake Method."

The Layer Cake Method: Build from the Ground Up

Don't try to add a Property, its Tenants, and their Leases all at once. When managing multiple properties, build each layer completely before moving to the next.

Layer 1: Property Addresses (The Foundation)

Focus exclusively on getting your physical real estate into the system.

1. Open the PropertiesPreview unavailable page.
2. Systematically add every property you manage.
3. For each, enter the Name, Full Address, Property Type (Single Family, Multi-Unit, Apartment, Land, Commercial), and any Notes.
4. Don't stop to add more units yet (creating a property automatically creates its first unit) — just get all the addresses in first.

Layer 2: Units (The Walls)

Now go back through each property and define the interior spaces.

1. Click into each multi-unit property.
2. Click Add Unit for each rentable space.
3. Enter the Unit Number, Bedrooms, Bathrooms, Square Footage, Rent Amount, and Currency.
4. Set the Status (Vacant, Occupied, or Maintenance).
5. Move on to the next property. Continue until every rentable door in your portfolio is accounted for.

Layer 3: Tenants (The People)

With every unit modeled, switch to the TenantsPreview unavailable page.

1. Add every active tenant:
   • Full Name, Email, Phone
   • Assigned Unit
2. Add Emergency Contacts for each tenant.
3. Focus on getting all the people into the database first. (Optional): For prospective tenants, you can generate an application link from the Screening tab to securely collect their details and documents.

Layer 4: Leases (The Glue)

This is where everything connects.

1. Navigate to the LeasesPreview unavailable page.
2. Click Add Lease.
3. Select a Unit (from Layer 2) and a Tenant (from Layer 3).
4. Define the terms: Start Date, End Date (leave empty for month-to-month), Rent Amount, Security Deposit, Late Fee, Grace Period, and Rent Due Day.
5. Upload the Lease Document and any Unit Condition Photos.
6. Repeat for each tenant-unit pair.

Why This Method Works

By following the Layer Cake Method, you completely avoid the "Chicken or the Egg" problem — trying to create a lease for a tenant that doesn't exist yet, for a unit inside a property you forgot to add.

It divides a massive migration task into four focused, repetitive sprints:

1. Properties → 2. Units → 3. Tenants → 4. Leases

Once Layer 4 is complete, your DashboardPreview unavailable instantly shows accurate:

• Total due and collection rates for the month
• Units in use against your plan limit
• Recent Activity showing the 10 most recent items

Learn more about how all this data flows together in our guide: How Everything ConnectsPreview unavailable.