It’s That Time of Year
At Focus Micro Systems, we’ve been hard at work behind the scenes, fine-tuning and enhancing RENT+ to bring you our most powerful update yet. Version 44 is packed with brand-new and improved features designed to streamline your property management experience. We’re confident that this latest evolution of our complete property CRM system will be met with open arms! Best of all, this update comes at no extra cost—it’s completely free for all RENT+ users.
If you’re a seasoned RENT+ user, you already know that we take pride in delivering fresh, innovative updates each year—ensuring that as the property sector evolves, so does the tool that countless agents across the UK rely on every day. But it’s not just the software that’s evolving—the team here at Focus Micro Systems is growing and adapting too. In this post, we’ll take you through what we’ve been up to over the past year and give you a glimpse of what’s in store for you on the all-important launch date: 25/03/2025!
The Faces of Focus Micro Systems?
Since our last update, Version 43, our team has evolved alongside RENT+, always striving to push the boundaries of innovation. While we’ve said goodbye to some valued teammates as they move on to new opportunities, our office has been far from quiet. At Focus Micro Systems, we remain committed to nurturing fresh talent, supporting the next generation as they embark on their journeys in the world of IT.
Apprentices
In the summer of 2024, we welcomed three new faces—Finley Colverson-Martin, Kavijan Anantharasa, and Harry Cork—who have hit the ground running, diving into the intricacies of the property sector and connecting with many of our wonderful clients (that’s you!). If you haven’t had the chance to say hello yet, why not give us a call and put their knowledge to the test? You never know what exciting ideas could come from brainstorming with a fresh perspective!
Development
Innovation at Focus Micro Systems isn’t just driven by fresh faces—it’s also fuelled by the expertise of our seasoned team members. A perfect example is Peter Haynes, one of our senior developers, who now celebrates an incredible 35 years with us. Thanks to Peter and our dedicated development team, our platforms continue to evolve, ensuring RENT+ remains at the cutting edge of property management technology.
As we look ahead, we’re excited to see how our projects grow with the collaboration of both experience and new perspectives. Our recent apprentices, Finley and Kavijan, are already working closely with Justin Adam and Reece Greenslade, gaining invaluable insight into the development process while bringing their own fresh ideas to the table. The future of RENT+ is brighter than ever!
Administration
It’s not just coding that makes our team exceptional—behind the scenes, it’s the brilliant business minds that keep everything running smoothly. After over 40 years in the sector, we know that success comes from more than just great software—it’s about the people who make it all happen.
One standout is our incredible administrator, Roxanne Patrick. Now the proud holder of 16 certifications awarded by the team at Sage, she has consistently pushed the boundaries of her role, tackling every new challenge with unwavering dedication. It’s clear that our Financial Director, Kathy Samuel, has gone above and beyond to ensure Roxanne is equipped with the knowledge and skills to handle any situation that comes her way.
Support
For the man of many hats—our support team technician, webinar wizard, and our very own slice of Scotland—James Spyt. Day in and day out, James ensures that our support team runs seamlessly, providing every client with not just the assistance they need, but the warm, family-oriented approach that defines Focus Micro Systems.
Now with over eight years of experience on the team, James brings a level of insight that’s second to none. Whether he’s guiding clients through challenges, leading engaging webinars, or keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes, his dedication never wavers.
Sitting alongside James in support, we have Zachary Johns, who, after completing his apprenticeship in 2023, has continued to grow as a key member of the Focus Micro Systems team. Now a fully fledged employee, Zachary has expanded his role beyond support, diving into webinars, project management under James’ guidance, and even taking the reins on our marketing efforts.
(Yes—Zachary wrote this post. And yes, he’s trying very hard to make himself sound impressive!)
Sales
Bringing our marketing efforts full circle, we have our Sales Director, Duncan Samuel. Selling RENT+ isn’t just a job for Duncan—it’s second nature. As someone who has been with Focus Micro Systems from the very start, he’s passionate about the product and the service we provide, making every conversation feel effortless.
Rumour has it, he’s even started venturing into the world of LinkedIn—why not send him a message and see where the conversation takes you?
Head at the Helm
A team is only as strong as its leader, and at Focus Micro Systems, we’re fortunate to have none other than our Managing Director, Callum Samuel, at the helm. Callum has consistently driven the team beyond what we ever thought possible—spearheading product evolution, expanding business opportunities, refining intricate processes, and so much more.
But his leadership goes far beyond strategy and innovation. Callum is deeply committed to the personal and professional growth of every team member, dedicating countless hours to mentorship and development. He doesn’t just push the team to do what’s right for the business—he empowers us to do what’s right for ourselves.
If you haven’t caught up with Callum in a while, why not drop him a message? He’s always happy to chat with a friendly face.
Security & Snack Inspection
Last, but certainly not least, we have our beloved office mascot and head of security, Bertie. Joining the team in 2024, Bertie has quickly become an essential part of the office dynamic. Whether it’s a stolen snack or a boisterous bark, he never fails to bring a smile to everyone’s face.
We do apologize if you hear him in the background during a call—he’s just doing his job to keep the office safe (and maybe claim a few treats along the way)!
The Facelift of Focus Micro Systems
You may have already noticed, but we’ve updated our logo! A logo is more than just a symbol—it should reflect every aspect of a business. After over 40 years in the sector, we felt our brand had evolved beyond the simplicity of the previous ‘F,’ and it was time for something that represented us more fully.
This wasn’t an easy decision, and we’ll always hold a special place in our hearts for the previous logo. But, as one chapter closes, a new window of opportunity opens. After exploring countless designs, we finally landed on one that best reflects our services, values, and the direction we’re heading.
It’s been quite a journey, and we couldn’t be more excited to see where this new logo takes us!
Version 44 – What’s Coming?
As you can see it’s been a busy year but enough about us, lets give you a sneak peak on some of the features coming with the brand new update for our complete property CRM system, RENT+ Version 44.
Sales Fee Generation
In any sector, financial transparency is essential to running a successful business, and we understand that this becomes even more crucial when managing both your own business finances and your clients’. That’s why, as part of Version 44, we’re introducing an enhanced way to manage your fees in both sales and lettings environments.
In addition to the automated fee generation already available in RENT+, you’ll now be able to separate fees based on the management style they originate from, all while retaining the automated features you rely on.
What’s more, this update doesn’t limit you—it adds flexibility. You can still introduce a multiple company setup to separate these management styles further. Every team operates differently, and with RENT+, we ensure that every work style is the right one for you.
Residential Inspections on Tenant
Managing inspections—especially in block management—can be daunting, with ever-changing legislation and local competition always striving to be the best. Staying ahead in property upkeep is crucial, and that’s why, as part of Version 44, we’ve introduced Residential Inspections at the tenant level.
If you haven’t yet explored Residential Inspections, this feature is the ultimate way to track any and all inspections, whether required by law or uniquely tailored by you to ensure perfect property upkeep. The new advancement allows inspections to be specific to individual tenants or flats/units within a property, rather than just applying to the entire property.
This means you can manage every level of inspection more effectively and generate tenant-specific reports, making external communication with third parties even smoother.
Even More DocuSign Features
In Version 43, we were excited to introduce our integration of DocuSign into RENT+. With Version 44, we’re taking this integration to the next level by bringing you even more powerful features that enhance your workflow.
We’ve added advanced functionality such as additional formatting options, multiple signers, improvements to the chained order, and much more, giving you greater flexibility and control over your document processes.
But that’s not all—our DocuSign integration now includes 67 new merge codes, complementing the already extensive range of merge codes from RENT+, making letter and document generation even more customizable. From Tenancy Agreements to Notices, you can now create and manage documents with ease, saving you hours of administrative work every week.
With RENT+ and DocuSign, we’re streamlining your processes to help you focus on what matters most—growing your business.
Additional Service Charge Expansion
Another powerful enhancement in Version 44 is the expansion of our Additional Service Charge Demand feature.
If you’re not already familiar, this feature allows you to post service charge dues outside of your budget—whether that be a surcharge or even a refund. While incredibly useful, the original version relied on tenant file data, which could lead to unintended charges across an entire block. We knew this needed refining, so we made it better.
With this expansion, you now have complete control. You can apply percentage-based or flat-rate calculations, manage allocations more efficiently, and access tenant information quickly—all from one streamlined screen.
This update is designed to enhance usability and flexibility, making service charge management easier and more precise than ever before.
Rent Smart Wales (RSW) Reports
We deeply value the feedback our clients provide, as it shapes the future of RENT+ in both effective and innovative ways. Through such insights, we became aware of specific legislative requirements for properties in Wales, particularly the need for agents to submit the “Managed Property List For Agents” spreadsheet to Rent Smart Wales (RSW) annually.
Previously, agents had to manually compile this comprehensive list, detailing all landlord information and their respective properties—a process that could consume hours or even days. Recognizing this challenge, we’ve developed a solution to streamline this task.
With Version 44, RENT+ introduces a feature that allows you to generate the required spreadsheet effortlessly. By leveraging the data already within RENT+, you can produce this report with just a few clicks, ensuring accuracy and saving valuable time. This enhancement not only simplifies compliance with RSW regulations but also reinforces our commitment to supporting our clients’ operational efficiency.
HMRC VAT Return Improvements
The final feature in our sneak peek of RENT+ Version 44 is the expansion of the HMRC VAT Return report—available with all RENT+ installations.
If you haven’t used this feature before, VAT Returns can be generated directly from the Home Screen of RENT+ by navigating to:
Accounts > Batch Procedures > HMRC Make Tax Digital VAT Return.
With Version 44, we have enhanced the VAT Return report to offer greater detail and coverage, including improved tracking of invoice numbers, commercial unit numbers, dates covered, and more. We understand that VAT Returns are a zero-margin-for-error process, so these refinements are designed to reduce stress and increase accuracy, making your reporting quicker and easier than ever.
Looking to simplify the process even further? Our MTD with RENT+ plugin allows you to not only generate your VAT Return report but also submit it directly to HMRC—all in just a few clicks.
What’s To Come
You’ve just seen our sneak peak of Version 44 but don’t worry, there is so much more to come with the release of Version 44. So mark your calendars – 25/03/2025 is one to look out for.
It’s not just an updated software that you get but also a series of webinars highlighting all of the new features brought to you, additions to our already extensive RENT+ Manual, a full update letter detailing each item, and a team of individuals excited to assist you in growing your business. The best part of it all – it’s free!
We truly cannot wait to present all of these exciting features to agents across the UK and are equally looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the future of RENT+. If you have any questions in the meantime, give us a call on 08712 500 021 to discuss with the team.
Thank you,
The Team at Focus Micro Systems
