The questions property teams actually ask.
Straight answers to the things that come up in every evaluation, including the ones where the honest answer is no. Written so you can take them into a meeting without us in the room.
Space and installation
How much lobby space does a convenience hub need?
Between roughly three and seven metres of wall, at about 700mm deep, plus clear floor in front of it for access.
Read the answer Space and installationHow long does installation take?
Four to six weeks to build and deliver after the configuration is signed off, then four to six hours on site.
Read the answerOperations
Who restocks it, and how often?
The provider does, on a schedule set by how fast that building actually consumes things. The on-site team should never be handling stock.
Read the answer OperationsWhat happens when something breaks?
Monitoring flags it before a resident reports it, the compartment is taken out of service automatically, and repair is the provider's job.
Read the answer OperationsWhat if a resident damages something or does not return it?
It is handled between the provider and the resident through the app account, not by the building.
Read the answer OperationsWhat happens if the internet goes down?
Compartment control keeps working locally and reconciles when the connection returns. Monitoring flags the outage rather than waiting for a complaint.
Read the answerCommercial
Is it insured, and who carries the liability?
Equipment, inventory and public liability should all be covered, and by whom depends on which operating model you pick.
Read the answer CommercialDoes the building make money from it?
Under one model you are paid rent for the space. Under the other you keep the revenue and carry the cost. Both are real; they are not the same bet.
Read the answer CommercialHow do you measure whether it is working?
Weekly active residents, repeat use and availability. Not impressions at a viewing, and not anything that cannot be counted.
Read the answer CommercialIs it worth it for a small building?
Below roughly 60 units the economics get hard. It is not impossible, but be sceptical of anyone who says yes without asking.
Read the answer CommercialWhat happens at the end of the contract?
Removal, the remaining stock and the state of the wall behind it. All three should be in writing before installation, not after.
Read the answerResidents
What do residents actually use it for?
Occasional durable goods and last-minute essentials. The pattern differs sharply by building type, which is why a fixed catalogue is the wrong approach.
Read the answer ResidentsDo residents pay to use it?
Yes, per use or per item, at prices well below owning the equivalent. Some buildings choose to subsidise parts of it.
Read the answerComparisons
Can it run alongside parcel lockers?
Yes, and plenty of buildings run both. They answer different questions and one does not replace the other.
Read the answer ComparisonsHow is this different from a vending machine?
A vending machine sells consumables and ends there. This also lends durable goods and takes them back, which is a different operation entirely.
Read the answerAsk us something not on this list
If the answer is that Lentra is the wrong fit for your building, that is the answer you will get.