Product: HappyCo Property Maintenance App (HPMA)
Available in HPMA Release 2.16.0 onward (inspections); HPMA Release 2.17.0 onward (work orders)
Overview
HPMA supports video capture on inspections and on work orders. You can record up to a minute of video on either — ideal for capturing motion, sound, and context that a photo can't show, like a leak, a running HVAC unit, or a door that won't close cleanly. Video sits alongside photos on the same item and plays back in HPMA on mobile and in HappyCo Manage on the web.
The two surfaces are controlled by independent Release Updates toggles. The capture and playback experience is the same on both; only the entry point and the menu wording differ.
How to enable it
- In HappyCo Manage, go to Admin Centre > Release Updates.
- Search for Video capture in Happy Property Mobile App
- Switch it on.
Once enabled, video will be available on your team's next HPMA refresh.
How to disable it
Return to Admin Centre > Release Updates, find Video capture in Happy Property Mobile App and switch it off.
Where you can use it
On an inspection
Video is available on the same camera button you already use for photos, on every item inside an inspection.
On a work order
Video appears anywhere you can add a photo on a work order:
- In comments — tap the attachment icon.
- In resident messages — tap the attachment icon.
- In photos — tap the attachment icon.
Recording a Video
On an inspection
- Open an inspection in HPMA on your mobile device.
- Navigate to the inspection item you want to attach video to.
- Tap the camera button.
Choose Video.
- Grant camera and microphone permission if prompted (this only happens the first time).
Tap Record. A timer shows you how much recording time is left.
Tap Stop when you're done. The video appears as an attachment on the item.
Recordings are capped at one minute. If you need more, record a second clip on the same item.
On a work order
- Open the work order and navigate to comments, resident messages, or photos.
- Tap the attachment icon.
- Tap Take photo or video to record live (or Add photo/video to choose an existing video from your phone's gallery — see "Attaching a video from your camera roll" below).
- On the camera screen, tap Video.
- Tap the red record button to start filming. A timer shows you how much recording time is left.
- Tap the record button again to stop filming.
- Tap the gallery button in the bottom left to view or delete what you've captured.
Attaching a Video From Your Camera Roll
On an inspection
Use the Upload button when in Video mode.
On a work order
Tap the attachment icon, then choose Add photo/video, then pick a video from your phone's gallery.
Removing a Video
To remove a video attachment, open the inspection item, tap the video, and choose Remove. This is the same flow as removing a photo.
Syncing and Playback
Sync
Once your device syncs to HappyCo, the video uploads to the cloud and is then cleared from your device storage automatically. Playback continues to work because the video is streamed from the cloud copy.
Where you can play it back
- HPMA mobile — Open the completed inspection, open the gallery, and tap the video link. The video plays in a video player.
HappyCo Manage (web) — Open the inspection item's or work order's attachments and click the video link. The video plays in a player on the page.
- Inspection report PDFs — Each video appears as a link in the PDF report. Clicking the link opens the video in a browser, where it will either play in a browser-native video player or download to the viewer's machine for native playback. If the report is printed, the link prints as text — the video itself is not part of the printed page.
If playback fails on mobile or in HappyCo Manage, check your connectivity and reopen the inspection.
What's Not Yet Supported
- Reordering video attachments
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a single video be?
Up to one minute on both inspections and work orders. The cap keeps file sizes manageable and uploads reliable on site Wi-Fi. If you need more, record a second clip on the same item.
Why does my video file name change after I sync?
HappyCo renames video files on upload to give them unique IDs. Use the inspection or work-order context to locate the video — not the file name.
What if the recording stops before I'm done?
Recordings are capped at one minute. Record a second clip on the same item to continue.
Where can I watch the video back?
Three places: HPMA mobile (open the inspection or work order, open the gallery, tap the video), HappyCo Manage on the web (open the attachments and click the link), and inspection report PDFs (the report contains a link that opens the video in a browser when clicked). PDF report links are inspection-only today.
What happens to the video after I sync?
It uploads to HappyCo, then clears from your device storage. Playback continues to work from the cloud copy.
Can I move or reorder video attachments?
Not yet — only adding and removing today. Reorder is planned.
Can I capture a still photo while recording a video?
On work orders, yes — tap the white button during recording to capture a still without stopping the video. This isn't yet available on inspections.
Are inspections video and work-order video controlled by the same toggle?
No. They're independent Release Updates toggles, so you can have one on without the other.
Does video recording work offline?
Yes. Recording works fully offline on both surfaces. Videos sync when you reconnect, the same way photos do today.