OpenRent vs Hilltro: which suits a self-managing landlord?
OpenRent and Hilltro both let landlords avoid a traditional high street agent, but they solve different halves of the problem. OpenRent is primarily an advertising platform: it puts your listing in front of tenants, with referencing, contracts and extras available as paid add-ons. Hilltro covers the whole tenancy for one flat £49 — enquiries arrive already referenced and identity-verified, and offers, digital agreements, compliance dates, notices and rent records are included, with management free for life.
| Feature | Hilltro | Advertising-only platform |
|---|---|---|
| Advertise your property online | Yes | Yes |
| Enquiries arrive already referenced | Yes | No |
| Identity document and facial match verification | Yes | Partly |
| See affordability before agreeing a viewing | Yes | No |
| Viewing requests and calendar built in | Yes | Partly |
| Structured written offers you can compare | Yes | No |
| Digital tenancy agreement, signed online | Yes | Partly |
| Joint applicants linked as one application | Yes | No |
| Deposit protection record stored and shared with tenants | Yes | Partly |
| All pricing in one flat fee | Yes | No |
| Ongoing management tools free for life | Yes | No |
| EPC, gas and EICR expiry tracked with reminders | Yes | No |
| Statutory notices on the current prescribed forms | Yes | No |
| Rent changes and payment records tracked | Yes | No |
| Tenancy end, notice and deposit release handled in-platform | Yes | No |
| Add an already-tenanted property for management only | Yes | No |
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between OpenRent and Hilltro?
OpenRent is primarily an advertising platform for landlords letting without an agent, with referencing, contracts and portal listings available as paid add-ons. Hilltro covers the whole tenancy for one flat £49: enquiries arrive already referenced and identity-verified, and offers, digital agreements, compliance tracking, statutory notices and rent records are included, with management free for life.
Is there a free alternative to OpenRent?
Listing on Hilltro is free and the management tools are free for life. You pay one flat £49 fee only when you find a tenant through Hilltro. There is no commission and no per-service add-on pricing.
Can I use OpenRent and Hilltro at the same time?
Yes. Many landlords advertise in more than one place. You can run your advert wherever you like and still use Hilltro free to reference applicants, sign the agreement and manage the tenancy afterwards.
Does Hilltro advertise my property on Rightmove or Zoopla?
No. Rightmove and Zoopla accept listings only from member agents, so Hilltro does not currently list there. Hilltro's focus is the quality of the enquiry rather than the volume: applicants are referenced and identity-verified before they reach you.