Kentstone Properties PLC

Users of KEY Property and KEY Advanced

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 Kentstone Properties plc is one of the oldest property portfolio companies in England - it was first registered in 1862 It is privately owned by 272 member shareholders  and is run day to day by an office administrator supported by a board of four directors.

The company's portfolio is now valued at over £20 million with approximately 144 commercial and residential properties mainly in the South of England.

Nicky Brightling is the self-employed chartered accountant who produces the quarterly management accounts and VAT figures for Kentstone. She began her career working in the City before joining a local firm, Chavereys, where she was first introduced to Landmark software.

"The trouble is it runs like clockwork."  she says as she laughingly admits that the KEY accounts and property management software is doing her out of chargeable days at Kentstone!

Chavereys gave Nicky the chance to experience the benefits of using Landmark software in diverse business situations, and she was given training by Mary Collis, Landmark's Director of Training and Support. She learnt a lot more about the flexibility of the report functions of KEY Accounts and was impressed.


On her recommendation Landmark was asked to demonstrate the benefits of KEY Accounts and KEY Property and the powerful reporting produced from linking the two programs.

In 2003 when the Directors of Kentstone Properties reviewed their manual accounting, audit and management systems they agreed that computerisation would speed up the process. Nicky had no hesitation in including Landmark in the selection procedure as she was confident that Landmark's software would be a strong contender, especially with its ability to deal with partial exemption VAT.
Nicky Brightling with the Kentstone Board

The Board took the prudent decision to run Kentstone manual accounts for one year in tandem with the new software. Angie who is running the programs daily in the office is a 'convert' to Landmark and like Nicky she prefers the programs to more general products on the market.

  "We went live in April 2004," says Nicky, "we are impressed by the flexibility and the functions such as the export facility which sends selected figures direct to Excel."

Custom Reports is an extra module Kentstone purchased from Landmark in the spring and this tool has improved the efficiency of Nicky's time. The Board likes the quarterly management reports to be presented in a certain way and she has been able to replicate the exact format by customising her own reports.

Nicky justifies her choice of software for Kentstone Properties: “Because I have confidence in using this accounts program KEY is my preferred accounting software. If any of my clients are looking to change a system or to introduce computerised accounts or property management software I always strongly recommend Landmark.

I have not come across any other property software that rivals KEY Property. If I have problems I always telephone the Landmark support team who are able to talk through the queries that we may have”.

Finally, asked for her advice to other property companies looking at improving their management software Nicky says: “Talk to other people about their accounting and property systems - about their likes and dislikes. Always run a new system alongside your existing one to get to know the new program and most of all check the provision of support. Good support is invaluable, so don't struggle alone in the office - use it!”