A lettings agent is getting ready to launch a direct service to landlords.

Neil Woodhead said: “It is aimed at the 50% of landlords who don’t use an agent, and will probably never use one.

“It will target those landlords who would never have come to us in the first place.”

Woodhead, who runs lettings-only agency Castle Estates in Inverclyde, Scotland, plans to roll out Ready Rentals across the UK.

The development site – which Eye has seen – allows landlords to become their own “personal online letting agent”.

The service will charge a £250 annual fee. Landlords with their own accounts will be able to create their own property adverts, which will then appear on the Castle Estates websites as well as Rightmove and Zoopla.

Landlords will also have access to tenancy agreements and referencing services, while the website will send them automated anniversary reminders. They will also be able to purchase add-ons such as EPCs, insurances, and accompanied viewings.

Landlords who join the service from Scotland will work within the Scottish legal framework, while those from England will work within the English framework, and all will get regular legal updates.

The service is due to launch at the end of this month.