Service reaches renters with text messages

With the hope of building stronger communication between rental communities and tenants, a Houston-based startup company has launched Tenant Txt. The online service, created by Daniel Ellis, is intended to keep tenants informed about community events, crime alerts, and maintenance repairs via text message and e-mail. Ellis said in an announcement that he was inspired to create the service "from living in apartments for seven years and noticing the lack of communication between management and tenants when community problems arise." In addition to keeping in touch with tenants, the reminder and alert Web service can be used by rental communities to communicate with maintenance workers and office personnel. Now available in Texas and Georgia, this service is intended to save management costs and time for reminder letters or phone calls. Ellis said in a statement, "the tenant can be well informed and management saves time by not going to every apartment and postin...