Repair calls that go in circles
You need to know where the leak is, whether water is still running, and when someone can let the plumber in. Guessing from a half-translated text wastes a truck roll, and your tenant waits another day.
For landlords & property managers
Talk to every tenant. No phrasebook needed.
When a tenant speaks Spanish and you don't, a leaking pipe can turn into a week of texts nobody fully understands. intelecho handles landlord Spanish over an ordinary phone call: you speak English, your tenant hears Spanish, and their answer comes back to you in English. It works the same way for Vietnamese, Chinese, Russian, Haitian Creole and dozens of other languages.
- 46 languages
- No app for either side
- Free 5-minute demo calls
18.4M
Spanish speakers in the U.S. who speak English less than “very well”
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year, table B160019.6M
U.S. renter households headed by an immigrant in 2024, 21% of all renters
Source: Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, America's Rental Housing 202618.8M
renter-occupied homes with at least one repair need (40.6% of rentals)
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, Home Repair Costs 2025 (2023 American Housing Survey)The challenge
Where the conversation gets stuck
A teenager stuck in the middle
Plenty of landlords end up relaying everything through a tenant's son or daughter. That puts a kid in the middle of rent talks, and you never know exactly what got passed along.
Notices that don't really land
Pest treatment, annual inspections, parking changes, quiet hours. When a tenant only half understands, you get missed appointments, chained doors and annoyed neighbors.
Calls you can make today
Real situations, handled by phone
Scheduling a repair visit
Call the tenant in 2B to confirm the plumber is coming Thursday at 10, ask whether the kitchen sink is still leaking, and check if someone will be home or if you should let the plumber in with your key.
A friendly late-rent check-in
Before anything formal, call to ask what's going on, explain the late fee in the lease, and agree on a date the rent will come in. A calm conversation in their language often settles it faster than a letter.
Walking a new tenant through move-in
Explain where trash and recycling go, how to report maintenance, the day rent is due and how the laundry room works, then answer their questions on the spot instead of over a week of messages.
Talking with a rental applicant
An applicant saw your listing and prefers Spanish. Confirm the move-in date, number of occupants, pets and which documents your application asks for, then send them the written application in Spanish.
What it sounds like
A sample call, English ⇄ Spanish
Each person speaks naturally in their own language. intelecho translates every turn so each side hears the other in a clear AI voice.
Languages that come up most
- Spanish
- Mandarin Chinese
- Cantonese
- Vietnamese
- Russian
- Haitian Creole
- Korean
- Arabic
Among U.S. residents who speak English less than “very well,” Spanish leads by far (17.2 million), followed by Chinese, Vietnamese, Russian and other Slavic languages, French and Haitian, Korean, Tagalog and Arabic (Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates, table C16001).
Translating both waysEnglish ⇄ Spanish
Property manager · EnglishHi Rosa, it's Mark from the building office. The plumber can come Thursday at 10 in the morning.Tenant hears: Hola, Rosa, habla Mark, de la oficina del edificio. El plomero puede venir el jueves a las 10 de la mañana.
Tenant · EspañolPerfecto, pero ese día trabajo. ¿Puede entrar con su llave? Mi hijo llega a las tres.You hear: Perfect, but I work that day. Can you go in with your key? My son gets home at three.
Property manager · EnglishYes, I'll let him in and stay until he's done. Is the sink still leaking?Tenant hears: Sí, yo lo dejo entrar y me quedo hasta que termine. ¿Sigue goteando el fregadero?
Tenant · EspañolSí, un poco. Ya puse una cubeta debajo.You hear: Yes, a little. I already put a bucket under it.
How it works
Three steps from this page to a translated call
- 01
Enter your number and your tenant's
Type your cell and the tenant's phone number, set your language to English and theirs to Spanish (or whatever they speak). Add your name so they know it's their landlord calling.
- 02
Pick up first
intelecho rings you, then calls the tenant. They hear a short message in Spanish saying this is a translated call from you, so it doesn't sound like a robocall.
- 03
Settle it, then put it in writing
Talk through the repair, the rent date or the move-in details in short turns. Afterward, send a written note confirming anything that matters, like the appointment time or the amount due.
Get it right
Tips for smoother calls
- Say the unit number and the date in the same sentence, and give times as “10 in the morning” rather than just “10.”
- Text the tenant beforehand that you'll be calling through a translated line, so they pick up a number they don't recognize.
- Ask every applicant the same screening questions in every language, so your process stays consistent with fair housing rules.
- Keep the lease or work order in front of you, read dollar amounts slowly, and ask the tenant to repeat the key number back.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can I use intelecho to explain an eviction notice in Spanish?
You can call to talk through what's happening and answer your tenant's questions, but the notice itself needs a proper written translation. Notice rules vary by state and city, and a translated phone call is not a substitute for the written document or for legal advice. If the matter goes to court, ask the court about a certified interpreter.
Does my tenant need to download an app?
No. intelecho calls their regular phone, landline or mobile. They answer, speak Spanish or their own language, and hear you in that language. You start the call from the intelecho website on your phone or computer.
How long can a call with a tenant last?
In the free demo, calls end after 5 minutes, which covers most repair and scheduling calls. If you manage a portfolio and need longer calls, contact us.
Are my calls with tenants recorded?
No. intelecho does not record call audio or store transcripts. Phone numbers go to Twilio to connect the call, and audio goes to OpenAI for translation. Keep your own notes of anything you agree on.
What if my tenant speaks something other than Spanish?
intelecho supports 46 languages, including Vietnamese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Russian, Haitian Creole, Arabic, Korean and Somali. Indigenous languages from Mexico and Guatemala, such as Mixteco or K'iche', aren't supported yet. Both phone numbers need to be in the U.S. or Canada.
Make your first translated call
Enter your number and theirs, pick both languages, and pick up when we ring you. It takes about a minute to set up.
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