Simplified Leases and Invoices
Ajar is property management and rent collection web application. One of its core modules is the Leases module, which allows users to create leases and generate invoices through a streamlined multi-step flow. This design enables property managers to customize invoice items, apply discounts, set lease terms, and easily extend leases or add one-time invoices — delivering a fast, flexible, and efficient experience.
The Problem
Property managers and landlords often juggle multiple tools for lease creation, rent collection, and invoice management.
Typical challenges include:
Fragmented processes: Lease drafting, editing, and invoicing are often handled in separate apps.
Limited flexibility: Most tools lock users into fixed lease terms and static invoice structures.
Poor scalability: Adding amendments, extending leases, or sending one-off invoices requires manual work and duplicated effort.
The result was slower onboarding of tenants, more administrative errors, and lost revenue due to billing delays.
My Role
Product Lead & UX Designer
Defined product requirements based on property management workflows.
Led user interviews with landlords, property managers, and accountants.
Designed the multi-step lease creator and invoice customization flow.
Collaborated with engineering to implement dynamic invoicing logic and lease extension functionality.
Research & Insights
Research Methods
In-depth interviews with property managers across residential and commercial portfolios.
Competitor analysis of top lease & billing platforms.
Usability testing of prototype.
Key Insights
Customization is king: Users wanted the ability to add or remove invoice items on the fly, set custom payment schedules, and apply both fixed-amount and percentage discounts.
Lease extensions are frequent: 70% of surveyed users extend leases at least once per year; the process should be as simple as possible.
User Flow
Lease Occupancy Details – User selects property, tenant, lessor, and lease type.
Lease Terms – Duration, start/end dates, rent amount, payment frequency, online collection settings, additional lease settings.
Edit and Review Invoices – Review invoices and add or edit line items, apply discounts, add notes to tenant.
What I Learned
Designing for flexibility without clutter is key. Frequent users want options, but defaults must be quick and simple.
Legal compliance varies by jurisdiction. Settings need to be adaptable to different laws without breaking the user flow.
Seamless invoice adjustments are just as valuable to landlords as lease creation itself.
