OpenRent vs Hello Neighbour: How the Self-Letting Market Is Evolving

The self-letting or DIY market has grown fast over the last few years as landlords seek more cost-effective ways of finding tenants.

Tenants have become internet-first, so getting great visibility is just a matter of advertising on the main portals: Rightmove, Zoopla, OnTheMarket. Modern technology can also do a great deal of the heavy lifting required to keep landlords compliant. Self-letting has become easier, quicker and safer for landlords.

So now is a great time to compare two of the leading self-letting or DIY services available today.

In this article:

1. Who is OpenRent?
2. Who is Hello Neighbour?
3. OpenRent vs Hello Neighbour: how do the prices compare?
4. How do OpenRent and Hello Neighbour handle tenancy deposits?
5. How does landlord support compare?
6. How do the platforms compare on ease of use?
7. How does safety and compliance compare?
8. How is property licensing handled?
9. Which is better, OpenRent or Hello Neighbour?
10. OpenRent vs Hello Neighbour FAQs

Who is OpenRent?

OpenRent fundamentally changed the lettings market.

By challenging traditional letting agents, simplifying advertising, and putting landlords back in control, OpenRent proved that:

• Landlords don't need high-street agents to let property safely
• Technology can replace expensive, opaque processes
• Self-letting can be mainstream

Today, OpenRent is estimated to account for around 17.1% of the UK lettings market; an extraordinary achievement in a sector that was once dominated by agents charging double-digit percentage fees.

They opened the door. Everything that followed stands on that foundation.

Who is Hello Neighbour?

Markets evolve.

What landlords expect from platforms today goes beyond simply advertising a property. Compliance has increased, regulation has tightened, and landlords want reassurance, support, and clarity, not just tools.

That's where Hello Neighbour comes in.

Hello Neighbour openly aspires to follow in OpenRent's footsteps, but to go further by being: cheaper, faster, safer.

OpenRent vs Hello Neighbour: how do the prices compare?

Both platforms start at a similar headline price, but the detail matters. Landlords deserve transparent pricing:

• Hello Neighbour: £29 including listing and Rightmove advertising
• OpenRent: £29 base price + £70 extra to include Rightmove

For landlords who want maximum exposure on the UK's most visited portal, Rightmove, Hello Neighbour is £29, OpenRent is £99. Transparent pricing means there are no surprises with Hello Neighbour.

If you want to use the platform to move a tenant in, plus compliance support throughout, legally tested tenancy agreements, deposit registration and first month's rent collection, the like-for-like pricing looks like this:

How do OpenRent and Hello Neighbour handle tenancy deposits?

Both OpenRent and Hello Neighbour handle the registration of tenancy deposits on behalf of landlords, removing a major compliance risk and ensuring deposits are protected correctly and on time in a government-approved scheme.

This automation simplifies the move-in process, reduces administrative effort, and gives tenants confidence that their money is legally protected from day one.

However, there is a key difference in how Hello Neighbour manages deposits compared to OpenRent.

OpenRent registers the deposit and holds the funds under MyDeposits' insured scheme on the landlord's behalf. OpenRent remains the intermediary for the lifetime of the tenancy, and landlords must deal with OpenRent and not MyDeposits directly if they wish to release or manage the return of the deposit when the tenant moves out. This also means the landlord cannot have the deposit placed in their custodial account with MyDeposits, giving the landlord less control.

By contrast, Hello Neighbour registers the deposit directly in the landlord's own custodial deposit scheme account, or allows landlords to do it themselves. This gives landlords clear ownership of the deposit record while still automating the setup.

Hello Neighbour's approach to tenancy deposits ensures that any interest accrued remains with the tenant, aligning more closely with traditional expectations around transparency, control, and tenant fairness. It also gives the landlord more control.

How does landlord support compare?

OpenRent has built a powerful self-service model, but support is limited and largely hands-off when compared with Hello Neighbour's support from the start. For confident, experienced landlords, that can be fine.

Hello Neighbour takes a different view.

Support is available at Hello Neighbour whenever it's needed, particularly for:

• First-time landlords
• Landlords navigating regulatory changes
• Anyone who wants reassurance they're doing things properly

This doesn't remove control; it removes anxiety.

How do the platforms compare on ease of use?

Hello Neighbour's platform was designed from the start to ensure that it provides an end-to-end journey that does everything you need on platform. It was also designed with the benefit of the most modern technology available.

That distinction with OpenRent matters. By managing the entire process, from listing to enquiries, viewings, offer negotiation and tenant checks, documentation and compliance, Hello Neighbour benefits from seamless information flow. Every step builds naturally on the last.

It also produces a user experience that is new, fresh and intuitive compared to what our users describe as the rather clunky OpenRent experience.

If you use our viewings and offer negotiation tools, your tenancy agreement will auto-populate with all the agreed terms from the offer negotiation and all the household details.

The result is:

• Fewer errors
• Less admin
• Better visibility
• A calmer experience overall

And of course, it saves your time.

How does safety and compliance compare?

With increased regulation and the implementation of the Renters' Rights Act on 1 May 2026, safety and compliance are no longer optional extras. Letting fraud is also an increasing worry for landlords and tenants. See Combatting Letting Fraud: keeping landlords safe.

Right from the start, as Hello Neighbour collects information about the property, the landlord and prospective tenants, we are focused on minimising the opportunity for fraud and ensuring we keep landlords safe.

We have introduced a live ID check with Trust ID to ensure first-time users are who they say they are and own the property they are letting. This gives tenants using the platform comfort, which in turn leads to better tenant traction.

Hello Neighbour ensures all tenants go through pre-qualification checks before they get a viewing, and we also allow landlords to ask their own questions too. We then make sure all of that information is easy to see in one place, so landlords can select tenants to view based on full information. We then offer the same high quality, fraud-focused open banking references that OpenRent do.

How is property licensing handled?

This is a growing issue for landlords, with local councils using new powers to create an increasing number of selective licences. See A Landlord's Guide to Property Licensing.

For any landlord using our Get Rented service, we will ensure you know which licences you need before you rent your property and monitor any changes in the licensing landscape that require action. We do that with the help of our partner Kamma, who focus on not much else, so together we can keep landlords safe from large fines or worse. You can read more about our partnership and see it in the press.

Which is better, OpenRent or Hello Neighbour?

OpenRent disrupted the market and deservedly earned its position. The modern DIY letting market in the UK would not exist in its current form without OpenRent. Hello Neighbour is building on that legacy by responding to what landlords now need:

• Lower costs
• End-to-end simplicity on a platform with an intuitive, easy to use interface
• Human support from start to finish
• Built-in compliance and safety

This isn't about replacing what came before. It's about taking the next step.

For landlords who want DIY letting to be not just cheaper, but calmer, clearer and more supported, they should choose Hello Neighbour over OpenRent.

Sign up today to see it in action. You only pay when you want to advertise. Get started or get in touch.

OpenRent vs Hello Neighbour FAQs

Is OpenRent still a good option for landlords?

Yes. OpenRent remains a strong choice for landlords who are confident self-managing the letting process. Its impact on the UK lettings market has been transformative.

Why compare OpenRent and Hello Neighbour at all?

Both platforms exist to help landlords self-let without traditional agents. Comparing OpenRent and Hello Neighbour directly helps landlords understand how the market has evolved and exactly what each platform offers. This also helps landlords understand which approach best suits their needs today, particularly around cost, deposits and compliance.

Is Hello Neighbour cheaper than OpenRent?

Yes. Hello Neighbour is cheaper when comparing like for like. Hello Neighbour charges £29 including listing and Rightmove advertising. OpenRent charges £29, with an additional £70 required to advertise on Rightmove; £99 like-for-like.

Do both Hello Neighbour and OpenRent advertise on major property portals?

Yes, both platforms provide access to major property portals. However, Hello Neighbour includes Rightmove advertising within its base price, while OpenRent charges £70 extra to list the property on Rightmove. OpenRent also doesn't advertise on Zoopla at all; the second busiest portal.

What's the difference in support between Hello Neighbour and OpenRent?

Both platforms offer support. Hello Neighbour provides in-person support right from the start, offering reassurance and guidance throughout the process. A real person at the end of an email or a phone at any point on your journey. OpenRent give you a chatbot!

Is Hello Neighbour or OpenRent better for first-time DIY landlords?

Both platforms can help landlords who wish to use the DIY model for the first time. If those landlords want help with negotiating offers and the certainty of the negotiation outcome being embedded in a legally tested tenancy agreement, then Hello Neighbour is generally better suited to first-time landlords. We would also suggest that our "support from the start" approach is a helpful guiderail for first timers.

How do OpenRent and Hello Neighbour handle compliance and regulation?

Both platforms provide prompts to help landlords manage their compliance risk. Hello Neighbour has embedded compliance directly into the letting journey to reduce the risk of missed steps. OpenRent ticks boxes.

Is Hello Neighbour trying to replace OpenRent?

No. There is room for both of us. Hello Neighbour aspires to follow in OpenRent's footsteps by building on the foundations they created, offering an alternative for landlords with a cheaper, fully supported and modern experience for today's regulatory environment.

Is Hello Neighbour or OpenRent faster to use?

Both platforms are remarkably fast and easy to use. If you use all the tools on the platform including viewings and offer negotiation, Hello Neighbour will typically be faster.

Which self-letting platform should I choose?

If you are confident, experienced and prefer a purely self-service approach and are happy to pay more, OpenRent may suit you well. If you want an end-to-end process, clearer compliance support, included Rightmove advertising and control over the tenants' deposit, Hello Neighbour will be the better fit.