Frequently asked questions

Pricing

What does Stimafy cost?

One property is free, forever. To add more properties you'll need a paid plan — pricing depends on how many properties and how many units. Most landlords pay less per month than a single tenant's monthly electricity bill. Reach out via Talk to us and we'll quote based on your portfolio.

How do I pay?

For now, M-Pesa or bank transfer, invoiced once we agree on a plan. Self-serve M-Pesa STK Push is on the roadmap.

Are there transaction fees on tenant payments?

No — Stimafy doesn't handle tenant payments. You bill via WhatsApp; the tenant pays you directly via whatever method you already use (M-Pesa, bank, cash). When payment lands, you tap Mark paid.

Data privacy

Where is my data stored?

AWS Cape Town (af-south-1). All tenant data, readings, and bills stay in Africa, never replicated outside. See the Privacy Policy and DPA for the legal framing under Kenya's Data Protection Act 2019.

Can my tenants see Stimafy?

Not directly — tenants don't have Stimafy accounts. They only ever see the WhatsApp messages you send them. The dashboard is for landlords only.

Can I delete a tenant's data?

Yes. From the Tenants page, tap Delete on the tenant. This removes their name, phone, email, and any historical bills tied to them. The unit and its meter history stay intact — you can assign a new tenant.

Can I export my data?

Not yet through the UI, but you can request a CSV export of your readings, bills, and tenants via Talk to us with subject "Data request". We'll get it to you within a business day. Self-serve export is on the roadmap.

Tenants and phone numbers

What phone format does WhatsApp need?

International format with country code, no plus sign, no spaces. Kenya: 2547XXXXXXXX. Local format like 0712345678 won't work. We don't auto-correct because we'd rather you spot a wrong number than silently message the wrong person.

A tenant doesn't have WhatsApp — what now?

Stimafy still creates the bill — you can read it from the dashboard and send it via SMS, email, or even read it over the phone. Mark paid as normal when payment lands.

I have one number, multiple tenants on it (family unit)

That works — you just create separate tenants in Stimafy with the same phone number, and they all get assigned to their respective units. You'll need to send the WhatsApp invoices separately so each is clearly tied to a specific unit.

Readings and bills

What if KPLC's rate is wrong on my SMS?

Stimafy uses the rate from your KPLC SMS — if KPLC over-billed you, passing through that rate means you over-bill tenants too. Resolve the issue with KPLC first, then start the cycle with the corrected figures.

Tenant moved in mid-cycle — how do I bill them?

For now, bill the full cycle to whoever lives there at the end of the cycle. We're considering mid-cycle pro-rating as a feature; tell us via Talk to us if you need it.

I'd like to add KPLC standing charges separately

Right now Stimafy bills strictly per-kWh-used. Splitting fixed costs (standing charge, fuel cost adjustments) into a flat fee per unit is a feature we're considering — let us know if you'd use it.

Account & access

Can my caretaker have access too?

Not yet — for now Stimafy is one account per landlord (signed in with one Google account). Multi-user access with caretaker-vs-owner roles is on the roadmap.

I lost access to my Google account — can I recover my Stimafy data?

Yes — write to support@stimafy.online from any address (we'll verify by other means) and we'll help migrate your data to a new Google account.

How do I delete my Stimafy account entirely?

Email support@stimafy.online with subject "Delete account". We'll wipe everything within 3 business days and send you a confirmation.

Still stuck?

Found a bug? Report it. General question not covered here? Talk to us. We reply within one business day.