By Michael Brennan, property-management systems analyst with 10 years of lease-accounting and portal support experience
Last reviewed: July 26, 2026
DoorLoop is cloud-based property management software for leases, rent collection, accounting, maintenance, reporting, and tenant communication. Tenants normally receive access from their landlord or property manager, while staff members and property owners may be added as users with specific permissions.
This independent guide is not affiliated with or operated by DoorLoop.
Do not assume every access issue is a password problem. An inactive lease, incorrect login email, restricted user role, disabled tenant feature, or unfinished payment setup can each remove a button or screen from view.
What DoorLoop is used for
DoorLoop combines rental operations in one system. Its stated functions include online rent collection, tenant screening, lease administration, maintenance, accounting, reporting, portals, and integrations.
Different people enter DoorLoop for different jobs.
Tenants use the Tenant Portal for available payments, payment history, announcements, insurance documents, and requests. Staff and accountants can be added as company users. Property owners may receive either owner-facing portal access or a user account with a restricted role, depending on how the management company organizes access.
That distinction matters immediately. A tenant invitation is not a staff invitation, and a Property Owners user role is not the same thing as unrestricted administrator access.
DoorLoop login and password reset
DoorLoop instructs users signing in with a password to enter the email address that originally received the portal invitation, enter the password created during setup, and select Sign In.
A forgotten password can be reset from the login screen through Forgot Password? The documented flow asks for the original login email, uses a Reset Password action, and sends a DoorLoop password-reset email containing a green Reset Password button.
Check the email first.
Using an alternative address may produce no useful reset message because the portal identity remains tied to the address used during activation. The property manager should inspect the tenant or user record when the person no longer controls that address.
Skip creating another account. A replacement identity may not contain the correct leases, permissions, accounting history, or property access.
Tenant invitations require an active lease
DoorLoop says tenant portal invitations can be sent so renters can use online payments, maintenance requests, and announcements. The current invitation process is managed through the tenant record.
A draft lease blocks that process. DoorLoop’s invite troubleshooting states that tenants on a Draft Lease cannot receive portal invitations; the lease must be activated first. Invitations also cannot be sent for leases that have ended and become inactive.
This is a management-side dependency.
Resetting a password cannot activate a draft lease. Repeatedly resending an invitation cannot reopen an ended lease. Management must correct the lease status before portal access can work normally.
Priority one is the lease record. Skip browser troubleshooting until the tenant appears on an active lease with the correct contact information.
Why two people see different menus
DoorLoop uses user roles to control what company users may see or change. Its standard roles include Full Access, Accountants, Maintenance Team, and Property Owners. Roles contain permissions that determine which parts of the account are available.
A manager can add a user through Settings > Users, select + New User, enter the required identifying information and login email, then choose a role from the User Role menu.
DoorLoop also permits custom roles on Pro and Premium accounts. Its documentation recommends testing restricted permissions with a separate user account before assigning the role to another person.
That is a useful operational detail.
A missing Accounting, Maintenance, or Reports menu may indicate the assigned role is working as configured. Do permissions first, skip reinstalling the application when another user in the same company can see the screen.
Giving a property owner account access
DoorLoop documents a route for adding an owner as a company user. Management opens Settings, chooses Users under the Company section, and selects + New User. A login email is required because it is used to invite the owner into the DoorLoop account.
The assigned role should match the intended access.
A property owner who only needs to review relevant property information should not automatically receive unrestricted company access. DoorLoop’s Property Owners role exists for that type of permission boundary, although managers should review the actual role settings before sending the invitation.
Do not share a staff login among several owners. Separate user accounts make permissions easier to control and reduce uncertainty about who changed a record.
Tenant Portal permissions
DoorLoop lets property managers customize the Tenant Portal. Its portal settings can control online rent collection, payment history, maintenance requests, announcements, and other tenant-facing functions.
Lease-specific settings can override broader defaults. The documented path begins with Leasing > Active Leases, followed by the lease, its Settings tab, and Tenant Portal. Management can then choose Specify portal features for this lease and configure that lease’s permissions.
This explains why one resident may have online requests while another does not.
A company default alone may not control an existing lease that has its own settings. Check the lease override before assuming the tenant portal has failed.
Setting up online rent payments
DoorLoop says several steps must be completed before tenants can pay online. Once setup is complete, tenant ePayments can be recorded automatically as lease payments and bank deposits.
The setup sequence includes business verification, property bank-account configuration, Tenant Portal settings, tenant invitations, payment notifications, and the ePay funding process.
A working tenant login does not prove the property can accept payments.
The tenant may be able to read announcements or submit a request while online rent collection remains unavailable because business verification, the receiving account, or portal permissions are incomplete.
Do payment setup first. Skip asking the tenant to try another card when no valid payment configuration exists behind the property.
Partial payments depend on three levels
DoorLoop says partial rent payments must be enabled at company, property, and lease level.
The documented checks are:
- Settings > Tenant Portal > Permissions at company level
- The property’s Settings > Tenant Portal > Permissions
- The lease’s Settings > Tenant Portal > Permissions
The Allow Partial Payment setting must permit custom amounts at all three levels.
One disabled level is enough to lock the amount.
This often looks like a payment-method issue because the tenant can reach checkout but cannot alter the amount due. Replacing the bank account or card will not change that behavior.
Check every permission level. Skip payment-provider troubleshooting while the amount field itself is controlled by the lease configuration.
Security deposits are accounting records
DoorLoop lets property managers record a security deposit held on an active lease. Its current security-deposit documentation also links separate workflows for withholding a deposit, refunding it, transferring it from an old lease to a new lease, recording an owner-held deposit, recording interest, and viewing deposits through the Chart of Accounts.
These are separate accounting events.
A charge labeled as a security deposit is not automatically the same as cash received, cash refunded, or an amount withheld after move-out. Each action should be recorded through the relevant DoorLoop workflow so the lease and accounting records remain consistent.
A common mistake is treating a deposit balance as ordinary rent. Do not apply or refund it casually through a generic payment entry when the transaction belongs in DoorLoop’s deposit workflow.
Security-deposit law varies by state and locality. DoorLoop records the accounting activity, but it does not replace the governing lease or legal requirements concerning holding, interest, deductions, notices, and return deadlines.
Maintenance access can be disabled
DoorLoop lets managers enable tenant requests under Settings > Tenant Portal > Permissions. The named control is Allow tenants to submit online requests. Optional settings can also permit tenants to view open and closed requests.
A missing maintenance button is therefore not always a technical error.
The resident may have a valid login and working payment access while request submission remains disabled. Management should inspect the applicable portal and lease permissions before asking the tenant to reset the account.
For urgent property hazards, tenants should follow the emergency contact procedure supplied by their landlord or management company rather than relying only on a portal request.
How managers can inspect the tenant view
DoorLoop provides an administrative way to see the Tenant Portal as the renter sees it. The current path is People > Tenants, followed by the three-dot menu beside the tenant and Login to Portal. The tenant-facing view opens in a new browser tab.
Use this screen for diagnosis.
It can confirm whether the tenant sees the expected lease, payment controls, announcements, documents, and maintenance options. This is faster than guessing based on the company dashboard.
The inspection view does not mean the manager should share the tenant’s identity or use unrestricted access for ordinary tenant actions. Keep administrative troubleshooting separate from the resident’s own session.
Frequently asked questions
What email should I use for DoorLoop login?
Use the email that originally received the portal invitation.
How do I reset a DoorLoop password?
Select Forgot Password?, enter the original login email, choose Reset Password, and follow the reset email sent by DoorLoop.
Why can’t my property manager invite me?
The lease may still be in Draft status or may already be inactive. DoorLoop requires an active lease before a tenant portal invitation can be sent.
Why can another employee see more menus?
DoorLoop user roles control access. The accounts may have different roles or permission settings.
Can owners be added as DoorLoop users?
Yes. Management can add an owner through Settings > Users and assign an appropriate login email and role.
Why can’t a tenant enter a partial amount?
Partial payments must be enabled at company, property, and lease level.
Can DoorLoop track a security deposit separately?
Yes. DoorLoop documents separate processes for deposits held, refunds, withholdings, transfers, owner-held deposits, and deposit interest.
Why is the maintenance option missing?
The Allow tenants to submit online requests permission may be disabled in Tenant Portal settings.
