The migration tool imports tenants you already manage elsewhere into Stortech: another software, paper leases, an Excel file. Unlike a standard booking, no deposit is requested, no lease signature is required, no proration or move-in fee is charged. The only goal is to set up future billing, through three modes: Credit card, Pre-authorized debit, or Offline payment.

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Importing via migration requires the Owner or Manager role. If the Migration button is missing or greyed out on the rentals list, ask an Owner on your team.

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The contact must exist in Stortech (or create it from the dialog with New contact). The target unit must be Available in Stortech — if the tenant already physically occupies the unit, mark it Available in Units first, then start the migration. Decide on the mode (Credit card, Pre-authorized debit, or Offline payment). If you have the existing paper lease, keep it as a PDF to optionally upload in offline mode. If the tenant has a negotiated discount, note the promo code: the promotion must already exist in Promotions to appear in the form.

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Step 1.
Open the Rentals list.

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Step 2.
Click Migration in the list's header (next to New rental). The Migrate an existing tenant page opens, subtitled "Transfer an already-in-place tenant to Stortech billing. No deposit or lease signature required — only a payment method."

Opening the migration tool from the rentals list

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The page is split in two: a left Summary panel that updates live as you make selections, and a right panel with the form.

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Step 1.
In the Customer section, click Select a customer and type to search.

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Step 2.
If the contact doesn't exist, click New contact to create it immediately.

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In the Payment method section, choose:

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Credit card — you or the customer will need to add a card. The first automatic charge happens on the selected date.

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Pre-authorized debit — you or the customer will authorize the bank charge via Stripe. Some bank accounts may require verification before billing activates.

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Offline payment — for tenants who pay by cheque, bank transfer, or cash. No move-in fee or proration will be charged.

The three payment methods available for a migration

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The mode changes the rest of the form.

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The Unit details section (common to all three modes): Unit (grouped by type with pricing), Monthly rent or Four-week rent depending on the facility's billing method (pre-filled with the type's rate, but editable), Promotion (optional — the list shows the discount value and duration; if the rent differs from the type's standard rate, a warning shows the discount won't apply in Stripe), Tenant protection (optional — the premium is added to the monthly invoice, or to each four-week invoice on a facility billed every 4 weeks).

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If the selected contact already has a compatible saved payment method (card or bank account for pre-authorized debit), a Saved payment method section appears automatically as soon as you choose Credit card or Pre-authorized debit, with its default method pre-selected. To use a new method instead, click Use a new card instead or Authorize a new bank account instead. When a saved method is selected, a single Import tenant with {method} button replaces the usual buttons: automatic billing starts immediately, with no new authorization link or email to the customer.

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Step 1.
​First cycle — the field depends on the facility's billing method. On a First of the month facility, select the billing start month: the current month (useful if the tenant already occupies the unit) or a future month, up to 12 months ahead; the first automatic charge happens on the 1st of that month. On an Anniversary date or Every 4 weeks facility, select the tenant's actual current cycle date instead (any day): Stortech billing starts at that cycle's next renewal and repeats on that same date.

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Step 2.
On a First of the month facility, if the current month is selected, a The tenant has already paid the selected month checkbox appears. Check it if the tenant already paid you offline for that month: Stortech doesn't bill it, and automatic billing starts on the 1st of the following month. Leave it unchecked to bill the full current month once the card is confirmed. This checkbox doesn't appear on an Anniversary date or Every 4 weeks facility — the selected actual date is always used.

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Step 3.
Click Email the tenant (Stortech sends a Stripe link the customer completes themselves) or Enter the card myself (redirects to Stripe Checkout in Setup mode, typically when the customer is at the office). The button shows Scheduling... while it runs.

Selecting the unit, choosing the month, and emailing the tenant in Credit card mode

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Note: Stripe Checkout opens in Setup mode — no amount is charged now. Stripe only saves the card for future automatic charges.

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In the PAD authorization section, two ways to set up the authorization:

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Stripe-hosted — two buttons: Send authorization to tenant (email with a Stripe link) or Authorize debit via Stripe (you complete the hosted bank verification with the tenant present).

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Use an existing mandate — enter the institution, transit, account number, holder's name and email, a mandate proof reference, its acceptance date, and the usage type (Individual/Business). Check the attestation, then click Submit PAD details.

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In both cases, Stripe may require microdeposit verification before activating automatic billing: the rental stays pending until the tenant confirms the two small amounts Stripe deposited.

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Step 1.
​Billing start date — select the date Stortech starts billing this tenant (any date, not just the 1st).

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Step 2.
​Payment method — choose from Cash, Cheque, Interac / Debit, Bank transfer, Other.

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Step 3.
Check Mark the first invoice as paid if you already received the first cycle's payment. Stortech creates the invoice and marks it paid immediately.

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Step 4.
Optional: expand Documents and drag-and-drop the paper lease or any related document (JPEG, PNG, PDF, max 5 MB).

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Step 5.
Click Import tenant. The button shows Scheduling... while it runs.

Selecting the date, offline payment method, and importing the tenant

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An imported tenant doesn't always have an email address. Stortech gives them a temporary one, on @billing.stortech.io, which goes nowhere. You can still send them their payment invitation, by text message for example.

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When that tenant opens the link, Stortech first asks for their address on a single-field page titled Your email address, before taking them to the payment page. The text explains that your facility needs it to send their invoices and receipts.

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As soon as they answer, the address replaces the temporary one on their record and they continue to payment setup. There is nothing for you to do.

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Tenants who already have a real address never see this page: their link goes straight to the payment page.

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Stortech creates the contact (if new) and links it to a Stripe account. A Stripe Checkout session in Setup mode is created (no immediate charge). A pending rental (status Preparing) is created with the start date, rate, and unit. Once the card is added, Stripe confirms the mandate and the rental moves to Active. The first invoice is generated and automatically charged on the chosen First cycle date — the 1st of the selected month on a First of the month facility, or the actual cycle date on an Anniversary date or Every 4 weeks facility — unless, on a First of the month facility, the tenant had already paid the current month, in which case the first charge happens on the 1st of the following month. If a promotion was selected and the rent wasn't customized, the discount applies automatically to the Stripe subscription. No deposit is requested, no BoldSign lease is generated. Gate access is provisioned once the card is confirmed.

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Stortech creates the contact (if new) and links it to a Stripe account. A pending rental (status Preparing) is created. Depending on the sub-mode, the customer authorizes via Stripe (hosted) or you enter an already-in-hand mandate (manual). Stripe may require microdeposit verification: the rental shows Bank verification pending until confirmed. Once the mandate is confirmed, the rental moves to Active and the first invoice is charged automatically. No deposit, no BoldSign lease, same as other modes.

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Stortech creates the contact and rental immediately, with no Stripe payment call. The rental is marked as manual payment (Manual badge) with the chosen method. If you checked Mark the first invoice as paid, the first invoice is created and marked paid; otherwise it's created as Open, ready to be settled manually. If a promotion was selected, it reduces the billed rent, same as a standard rental. No deposit, no proration, no move-in fee, no BoldSign lease. Uploaded documents are attached as a timeline note. Gate access is provisioned per the access provider's configuration.

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A rental migrated in Offline payment mode can be converted later: the customer adds a card via their portal (or you add one from their record), then on the rental's record, click Convert. Stortech switches the rental from Manual to Auto; future invoices will be charged automatically. See Payment labels and conversion to autopay.

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The Migration button is missing or greyed out.

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What to check: do you have the Owner or Manager role?

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What to do: ask an Owner on your team.

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The unit I want to import doesn't appear in the selector.

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What to check: is the unit marked Available in Stortech?

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What to do: set the unit to Available from Units, then restart the migration.

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The customer didn't receive the email with the Stripe link.

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What to check: does the facility's Emails tab show the send?

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What to do: resend the invitation from the rental's record, or ask the customer to check spam.

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The customer added their card but the rental stays Preparing.

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What to check: has Stripe confirmed the mandate? Was the webhook processed?

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What to do: for a standard card, it's instant. If stuck, check the Activity tab and contact support if needed.

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The tenant hasn't finished bank verification (microdeposits) and I lost the Stripe link.

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What to check: does the rental show Bank verification pending?

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What to do: open the rental's record: two dedicated controls appear there, Open verification page (reopens the same hosted Stripe page, without creating a new configuration) and Resend verification email (resends that same link by bilingual email).

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I checked Mark the first invoice as paid by mistake.

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What to check: the invoice is created as paid with an offline payment associated to it.

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What to do: issue a manual credit note or contact support to reverse the recorded payment.

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The tenant was billed for a month they'd already paid you offline.

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What to check: was The tenant has already paid the selected month checked during migration (Card mode, current month)?

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What to do: if it wasn't checked, contact support to adjust the invoice or issue a credit.

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The promotional discount doesn't apply on the migrated tenant's Stripe invoice.

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What to check: does the entered monthly rent differ from the unit type's standard rate?

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What to do: a custom rate cancels the promotion, same as a standard booking. Remove the custom rate or apply the promotion manually afterward.

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The tenant says they see "This address is already used by another account".

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Check: that address is already attached to another customer account. It is almost always a duplicate record of the same tenant, created at import.

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Do: search for the address in Contacts. If it really is the same tenant twice, contact support to combine the two records, then ask them to reopen their link. If they are two different people, ask the tenant for another address.

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The tenant says they see "Too many attempts".

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Check: nothing on your side. The page limits how many tries can happen in quick succession.

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Do: ask them to wait a few minutes and reopen their link.

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When should I use the migration tool instead of creating a standard rental? When transferring an existing tenant who is already paying or already occupies the unit. Migration mode skips the deposit, the lease to sign, and current-month proration.

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What's the difference between Credit card, Pre-authorized debit, and Offline payment modes? Credit card prepares a Stripe link; the first charge happens on the 1st of the selected month. Pre-authorized debit authorizes a bank charge via Stripe, hosted or with an existing mandate. Offline payment creates the rental with no Stripe charge at all.

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The customer still pays by cheque or cash. How do I import them? Choose Offline payment, select the payment method and billing start date. Optionally check Mark the first invoice as paid if you've already received it.

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How do I switch a migrated tenant to automatic payment later? Ask the customer to add a card via their portal, or add one from their record. Then use the Convert button on the rental.

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Can I apply a promotion to a migrated tenant? Yes, via the Promotion (optional) selector in Unit details — unless you enter a custom monthly rent, in which case the promotion won't apply in Stripe.

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Can I migrate a tenant effective the current month, even if it's already underway? Yes, in Credit card mode. The First cycle selector offers the current month in addition to future months.

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Why is the start date limited to the 1st of the month in Credit card mode? This limit only applies to facilities billed first of the month: Stortech aligns Stripe billing to the 1st there for migrations. On an Anniversary date or Every 4 weeks facility, the start date follows the tenant's actual cycle, any day. In Offline payment mode, you can always choose any date, regardless of the facility.

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Is the migration tool temporary? It's mainly used during the initial switchover to Stortech, but stays available at all times to import a tenant taken over from another site.

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Will the customer receive an email? In Credit card or hosted Pre-authorized debit mode with Email the tenant, yes: an email with the Stripe link. In Offline payment mode, a welcome email is typically sent depending on the facility's configuration.

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The migrated tenant never added a payment method. How do I activate it now? Open the rental's record, Billing section, click Convert, then choose Add a card or Send invitation. See Payment labels and conversion to autopay.