Troubleshooting
Record-keeping tool only, not tax, legal, or accounting advice. Landlord-tenant and tax rules vary by state and city; consult a licensed attorney or CPA.
Google Sheets says "Request access"
Don't click Request access. You don't need it, and it won't get you a copy any faster. Instead:
- Make sure you're signed in to a Google account.
- If you use a work or school Google account, try a personal Google account. Some organizations block copying files from outside.
- Download Rentlark v1.0 (Sample) or Rentlark v1.0 (Blank) (Microsoft Excel files) from your Gumroad library, upload the file to Google Drive, and open it with Google Sheets, as in the "Opening Rentlark in Google Sheets" note below. Don't use a file or link someone forwarded to you.
- Still stuck? Email rentlark@mail.grokbot.com and tell us what you see.
I uploaded the .xlsx to Google Drive and something looks wrong
The .xlsx file is made for Microsoft Excel. To use Rentlark in Google Sheets, upload the .xlsx file to Google Drive and open it with Google Sheets; see the note below. An uploaded .xlsx may not look or behave exactly the same as in Microsoft Excel.
Opening Rentlark in Google Sheets. Download Rentlark v1.0 (Sample) or Rentlark v1.0 (Blank) (Microsoft Excel files) from your Gumroad library, upload the file to Google Drive, and open it with Google Sheets. If you see a green .XLSX label next to the file name, click File > Save as Google Sheets and work in that copy. An uploaded copy doesn't include the edit warnings that protect the formula cells, so type only in the input cells, and some layout details may look different. Something look off? Email rentlark@mail.grokbot.com.
Microsoft Excel shows "Enable Editing" or "Protected View"
Microsoft Excel opens files downloaded from the internet in Protected View. Click Enable Editing in the yellow bar at the top. Rentlark has no macros, so you'll never need to enable macros or content.
Microsoft Excel says the file needs a newer version, or formulas show #NAME?
Rentlark is designed for Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel 2016 or later. If you see #NAME?, #REF! or #VALUE!, email us with the app and version (in Microsoft Excel: File > Account), the tab and the cell. Please don't include tenant details.
Microsoft Excel says a cell is protected
In Microsoft Excel, every tab except Payments, Expenses and Repairs is protected, so formulas don't get typed over by accident. That includes the calculated tabs like Rent Status, Annual Summary and Dashboard. Type only in the input cells.
- In Google Sheets, an uploaded copy doesn't include the edit warnings that protect the formula cells, so type only in the input cells.
- Microsoft Excel says the cell is on a protected sheet: click OK.
In Microsoft Excel there's no password, but we recommend leaving protection on. Payments, Expenses and Repairs aren't protected, so take care not to type over their grey formula columns, such as Check. If a formula gets overwritten, copy that cell from the row above, or start from a fresh copy and paste your inputs back in. The hidden helper tabs (Lists, Engine) hold calculations; don't edit them.
Sorting and filtering
Payments, Expenses and Repairs aren't protected and have filter buttons on their header row, so you can sort and filter them. Totals don't depend on row order.
- Select the whole table before sorting (or all of its yellow columns), never just one column, so each row stays together.
- Filters only hide rows. Every total still counts all rows.
- Calculated tabs like Rent Status aren't meant to be sorted.
- Google Sheets: use the filter buttons on the header row, or select the whole table and use Data > Sort range.
A row is flagged in red (the Check column)
Payments, Expenses, Repairs, Properties & Units and Tenants & Leases each have a Check column. A message there means the row has a problem and may not be counted until you fix it. The Dashboard shows Flagged rows to fix.
| Message | What to do |
|---|---|
| Missing or invalid date | Enter a real date in the Date column. |
| Missing lease ID / Unknown lease ID | Payments are logged by Lease ID, not by unit. Pick the lease from the dropdown. It must exist on Tenants & Leases. |
| Amount not a number | Type the amount as a number, without a "$" sign. |
| Unknown type | Pick Rent, Late fee, Deposit or Other. |
| Type Other: not counted | Fine if intended: Other payments are recorded but don't count toward rent. |
| Before lease start: not counted | The payment date is before the lease starts. Check the date or the lease start. |
| Type blank, counted as Rent (grey italic) | Just a note, not an error. A blank Type counts as Rent. Pick a Type to clear it. |
| Uncategorised / Unknown category | Pick a category from the dropdown on Expenses. |
| Describe this Other expense | Add a Description for any "Other" expense. |
| No property or unit | Fill in the property (or unit) for the expense. |
| Capital item must be Y or N | Enter Y or N. |
| Missing unit ID / Duplicate unit ID / Missing property | On Properties & Units, every unit needs a property and a unique Unit ID. |
| Duplicate lease ID, Missing start date, End before start, Missing monthly rent, Unknown unit ID | Fix the lease row on Tenants & Leases. Each lease needs its own Lease ID and a unit from Properties & Units. |
| Short / Over (deposit) | The deposit you've received (Deposit-type payments) is different from Deposit required. |
| Missing or invalid opened date, Missing unit, Closed before opened | Fix the row on Repairs. |
Rent status looks wrong
- The rent due day is one setting for the whole file, in Settings. You can't set a different due day for each lease. Statuses use that due day plus grace days.
- Statuses are judged at the Settings As of date. If it isn't blank, statuses show as of that date, not today.
- Months after the As of date show – (not due yet). That's expected.
- Rent payments pay off the oldest month first, whatever you put in "For month" (that column is for your reference only).
- A negative payment row (refund or bounced check) reopens the newest covered month. The Check column shows "Reduces credit" or "Reopens balance".
- Late fees have their own balance. Paying a late fee never changes a rent status.
- Deposits aren't counted as income. A deposit you keep, or use as rent, may be income (IRS Pub. 527); confirm with your tax preparer.
A tab has run out of rows
Each tab has a fixed number of ready-made rows: 10 units, 30 lease rows, 1,500 payment rows, 1,500 expense rows and 200 repair rows. Don't insert rows by hand inside a Rentlark tab.
2027 and later
The categories follow the Schedule E expense lines. Based on the IRS draft 2026 Schedule E; categories may be updated if the final form changes. 2027 and later use the 2026 Schedule E lines until the IRS publishes the final form for that year; categories may be updated then. Not tax advice.
Apple Numbers, other currencies, phones
- Apple Numbers: not supported.
- Currency: US dollars only.
- Phones: Rentlark is built for a computer and hasn't been tested on phones, so please download, upload and open your file on a computer.
Still stuck?
See Contact support. Please describe the problem in words (app, tab, cell, and what you see). Don't send your file or any tenant details.