High street letting agent vs Hilltro

A high street letting agent typically charges a tenant-find fee of around one month's rent, or 8–15% of rent every month for full management, usually with a fixed-term contract and renewal fees. Hilltro charges one flat £49 fee, paid only when you find a tenant, with no commission, no tie-in and management free for life. On a £1,500 pcm tenancy, a 10% management fee is about £1,800 a year; Hilltro is £49 once.

Hilltro compared with High street agent
Feature	Hilltro	High street agent
Flat, predictable fee	Yes	No
Monthly commission on rent	Yes	No
Tenant-find fee	Yes	No
Renewal fees each time the tenancy rolls	Yes	No
Pay only on success	Yes	Partly
Tenants referenced before they enquire	Yes	No
Identity document and facial match verification	Yes	Partly
Affordability visible before you agree a viewing	Yes	No
Referencing free for the tenant	Yes	Yes
No fixed-term tie-in	Yes	No
You choose your own tenant	Yes	Partly
You speak to tenants directly	Yes	No
Leave whenever you want, keeping your records	Yes	Partly
Digital tenancy agreement, signed online	Yes	Partly
Deposit protection record stored and shared	Yes	Yes
EPC, gas and EICR expiry tracked with reminders	Yes	Partly
Statutory notices prepared on the current prescribed forms	Yes	Partly
Viewings, offers, messages and payments in one dashboard	Yes	No
Joint applicants handled as one linked application	Yes	Partly

Frequently asked questions

How much does a letting agent cost compared with Hilltro?

High street agents typically charge a tenant-find fee of around one month's rent, or 8–15% of monthly rent plus VAT for full management, often with renewal fees. Hilltro charges one flat £49 fee, paid only when you find a tenant, and management is free for life. On a £1,500 pcm tenancy a 10% management fee is roughly £1,800 a year.

Is Hilltro a letting agent?

No. Hilltro is a platform that connects landlords directly with referenced, identity-verified tenants and provides the tools to run the tenancy. It does not take commission, hold keys, visit properties or manage maintenance.

Do I have to leave my current agent to use Hilltro?

No. You can add an existing tenanted property to Hilltro and use the management tools free while your agent continues, then use Hilltro to find your next tenant when the tenancy ends. Check your agent's notice terms before ending any contract.

Can I use Hilltro if my property is already tenanted?

Yes. Add the property and the tenancy to Hilltro and you get compliance date tracking, the agreement record, deposit protection details, notices and rent records free for life. Tenanted properties are not published publicly.

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