Help and user guide

What HouseLog is for

Why it exists

Equipment such as a boiler, consumer unit or stopcock comes with paperwork, photos and a service history that ends up scattered, and you usually need it at the moment something goes wrong. HouseLog keeps it in one place, organised by item.

What you end up with

A record for each item in your home: its details, a timeline of the services, repairs and inspections you add, the receipts, certificates and photos attached to each, an optional next service date that you choose, and a QR label you can stick near the item so you can open its record by scanning it.

Who it is for

Anyone looking after one home who wants its equipment history in one place. This version covers a single property.

What it does not do

HouseLog records what you enter. It does not tell you when to service anything, and it does not check that equipment is safe or meets any standard. There are no accounts, and nothing is uploaded or shared. The QR label holds only a random code, not your address or details.

Your first ten minutes, step by step

Step 1: Name your home

On first launch, enter a name you will recognise, such as My house, and an address if you want one. Choose Continue. If you already have a HouseLog backup, use Restore or import an existing home instead.

Step 2: Add your first item

On Home choose Add asset. Pick its type, such as Boiler, enter a name, and fill in the details you know. A photo of the rating plate is a handy way to keep the make and model. Choose Save.

Step 3: Record what has happened

Open the item and choose Add event. Pick the type, such as service or repair, set the date, give it a short title and add notes. Adding past events builds the history.

Step 4: Attach the paperwork

Add receipts, certificates or photos to the item from your camera, photo library or Files. Selecting them under Files for this event links them to that event. Open a saved file to check it came through.

Step 5: Choose a service date, if you want one

Edit the item and set Next service date. HouseLog never suggests a date, so you decide. Allow notifications if you want a reminder at 9:00 on that day.

Step 6: Label it and find it by scanning

On the item choose Print QR label, print it and stick it near the equipment. Later, open Scan and point the camera at the label to open that item's record. Use Torch in dark cupboards. If scanning is not possible, choose Find an asset instead, or Enter label code and type the code printed under the QR.

Step 7: Keep a backup

In About, open Backup & Restore to keep a full backup of your home in case you lose or replace your iPhone.

Set up your home and assets

Name your home

Create the property with a recognisable name and optional address. If you already have a full backup, use the setup screen’s Backup & Restore route before creating a new property. Edit property later from About.

Add an asset

From Home choose Add asset. Select its type, enter its name and the details you know, then Save. Optional fields can be left unset. Open the asset to see its details, events and files. HouseLog records what you enter; it does not certify equipment or advise when to service it.

Record events and evidence

Build the history

Open an asset and choose Add event. Choose the event type, date and title, then enter notes. Select the intended files under Files for this event. Save when your selection is complete. Open an existing event to edit it. Timeline groups recorded events and opens their asset. Search event titles, notes, asset names or types, and combine the Asset and Type filters. Clear filters restores the complete timeline. Home search finds assets by name or type.

Keep receipts and photographs

Use the asset’s file-import actions for photos or PDFs, or add files from an event. Wait for import to complete and open the saved file to check it. Files stay with the asset; selecting them links them to an event. Deleting an event keeps its files. Deleting an asset removes its events and stored files after confirmation.

Service dates and reminders

Choose a date yourself

Edit the asset and set Next service date if you want one. HouseLog does not suggest a date. Home shows entered dates using the existing due rules, including the next 60 days. A saved date and a successfully scheduled notification are separate outcomes; read any notification warning after saving.

Check notification permission

HouseLog uses a single reminder at 9:00 on the chosen date. Allow notifications in iPhone Settings if you want delivery. The app reconciles saved dates with notifications when opened, including after restore. Notification delivery still depends on iOS settings and timing; an old date does not produce a new future reminder.

Print and scan QR labels

Make a label

Open the asset and choose Print QR label, or select assets in the labels screen. Preview the PDF and use the native print/share options. Keep the QR clear and readable when printing. Under the QR, each label also prints a 26-character code. It is the same random token the QR holds, not your address or asset details.

Find the right asset

Use Scan and allow camera access, then point the camera at a label. Use Torch in dark places; the light switches off when you leave scanning. If scanning is unavailable, choose Find an asset instead, or choose Enter label code and type the 26-character code printed under the QR on the label. It uses capital letters A to Z and digits 2 to 7, with no zero or one. A complete HLG1: payload also works. A code only opens an asset when it matches this app’s current dataset. An unknown code is not evidence that an asset exists here. Restoring a full backup preserves its saved tokens, so existing labels for that dataset can still match. Deleting an asset or all local data stops its labels working unless that dataset is restored.

Backup, export and restore

Keep a complete local copy

Open Backup & Restore and choose Export Full Backup. Wait for Save or share full backup, then save the archive somewhere private. A PDF report or printed label is not a full backup. Archives include the database and stored files and have no password; anyone with the file can read their contents.

Use iCloud backup

Sign in to iCloud and enable iCloud Drive in iPhone Settings, then turn on Automatic iCloud backup in the app. Saved changes make the data eligible for backup. Automatic snapshots run at eligible foreground opportunities, with at least 24 hours between cloud-confirmed automatic snapshots. Back Up Now bypasses that interval. Keep the app open and check the status: preparing or waiting for upload does not mean cloud-confirmed.

Restore safely

Export the current data first if you want to keep it. Import a full backup from the same app, or refresh iCloud backups and choose Download and review restore. Check the source, date and record counts. Replace Local Data replaces the entire local dataset; it does not merge records. Cancel restore if it is not the snapshot you wanted. Damaged or incompatible backups are rejected; do not delete your current data to make an import work.

Cloud off, offline or needs attention

Local records and local export/import remain available when iCloud is disabled or unavailable. An upload may stay pending offline; reconnect, open Backup & Restore and refresh. Check iCloud sign-in, iCloud Drive, network and available storage if backup needs attention. Turning automatic backup off does not delete existing cloud snapshots. Each installation creates separate snapshots; this is backup and restore, not live sync.

Delete copies deliberately

Local deletion does not remove old cloud snapshots or exported files. Manage cloud copies using Delete this cloud snapshot and its confirmation. The app retains three confirmed snapshots from this installation; other-device snapshots require your explicit deletion. Shared PDFs and saved archives must be managed wherever you saved or sent them.

Troubleshooting and accessibility

A save or import fails

Read the error and retry after checking available iPhone storage and access to the source file. Keep the original file until the import succeeds. An error is not an empty database. If startup reports a storage problem, use its retry action; do not delete or reset your data to dismiss the message.

Camera or photo access

If the camera is unavailable, check the app permission in iPhone Settings. The photo picker only imports the items you select. When using Files, make sure a cloud-hosted source file has downloaded before importing it.

Make the app easier to read

The app follows iPhone appearance, text-size and accessibility settings. Use larger text, increased contrast or VoiceOver through iPhone Settings. Statuses include words and icons as well as colour. Scroll to reach controls at larger text sizes. The in-app guide works offline and does not send your data anywhere.