After two decades in property, Kit Ram knew efficiency was everything. But launching his own agency meant rethinking how to run a lean, modern operation—without the admin overload.
After more than two decades in property, Kit Ram knew what made a lettings agency tick. But when he launched Kit Ram Residential in Bedford, he had a different vision. He didn’t want a bloated team or manual admin slowing things down. He wanted a smarter business – one that ran lean, embraced technology and stayed ahead of growing regulation.
Kit’s early days running the new agency were hands-on. He managed landlord communication, deposit registration, tenancy compliance and all the accounts himself. But he quickly realised his old software wasn’t built for that pace or that level of precision.
“I sold my first agency in 2011. Coming back into the industry, I knew what worked and what didn’t,” Kit explains. “I looked at loads of systems, but Alto was the only one that genuinely impressed me. After the demo, I remember thinking, ‘This is it. This is going to save me hours.’ And it has.”
“Registering deposits used to take ten minutes a pop. I’d be scanning, uploading, emailing—it all added up. With Alto, that takes seconds. It’s those small wins that free up your day.”
From two staff to one – and still ahead of schedule
Kit’s biggest operational shift came from streamlining how the team works. With Alto’s automation and integrated workflows, he was able to consolidate responsibilities without compromising service quality.
“Previously, we had two people working full-time. Now, it’s just one person — and they’ve still got time to spare. We’re no longer stretched. That’s entirely down to the way Alto helps us work smarter.”
Over the course of a typical week, Kit estimates he saves at least 15 hours in admin time. That’s time now spent on landlord relationships, growing the portfolio, and ensuring compliance in a fast-moving sector.
Making the numbers work
The real transformation came in the back office. Alto helped Kit improve financial accuracy, speed up daily tasks, and create more transparency across the board.
Automated deposit registration
What took ten minutes per tenancy now takes two clicks
Batch receipts and payment exports
Less room for error, more confidence in the books
All-in-one management
From compliance tracking to landlord updates, it’s all in one place
“I don’t worry about the accounts anymore; I used to spend hours checking everything. Now, it’s just sorted. That mental weight is gone.”
Tech that keeps pace with the industry
For Kit, the real value of Alto isn’t just in saving time. It’s in staying prepared. With lettings legislation evolving fast, having a system that keeps up has been essential to staying compliant—and staying competitive.
Kit’s experience building two agencies has given him perspective—and clarity. For those starting or scaling their own business, he has one clear message.
“Don’t scrimp on your systems. You think you’re saving money with a cheaper CRM or spreadsheets, but it’ll cost you more in the long run. Time, stress, mistakes—it adds up. Alto pays for itself within the first few months.”
“The industry’s changing. There’s more regulation every year. Alto doesn’t just react, it updates and adapts. I feel like I’m future-proofing the business without even trying.”
His approach is working. Kit now manages over 110 properties on a slim, efficient setup—without long hours, messy admin or manual workflows dragging things down.
“Honestly, I can’t imagine doing it without Alto. It’s just become the way we run the business.”
About Kit Ram Residential
Kit Ram Residential is a lettings and property management agency based in Bedford, serving landlords across the region. Founded in 2003 and relaunched in its current form in 2021, the agency is built on over 25 years of industry experience. Kit’s approach combines local knowledge with efficient, technology-led systems. He has been an Alto customer since 2021.
