Guarantors in private tenancies

A guarantor is someone that agrees to pay your landlord any money you owe for rent, bills or damage. Landlords or letting agents might be more likely to ask you for a guarantor if you’re on a low income.

When you might be asked for a guarantor

Not everyone needs a guarantor. You may be asked for a guarantor for some private tenancies and not others.

You're more likely to be asked for a guarantor if you're on a low income or if you're a student, especially for tenancies with a higher rent.

You'll usually be asked for a guarantor as well as a deposit. In some cases you might be asked for a guarantor instead of a deposit.

What your guarantor is responsible for

Your guarantor will be given a written agreement to sign which sets our their responsibilities. These could be paying for:

unpaid rent
unpaid bills
repair costs for damage caused by you

Your landlord can take legal action against your guarantor if they do not pay costs that they’re supposed to.

If you have a joint tenancy, your guarantor will usually be the guarantor for the whole tenancy and not just for you. This means if any person does not pay their rent, the guarantor will be liable to cover the unpaid amount.

Check our advice on your rights if you have a joint tenancy.

Ending a guarantor agreement

A guarantor agreement might last for some or all of your tenancy. This depends on the terms of the agreement.

The agreement could end:

on a specific date written in the contract
if the terms of the tenancy agreement change
if the tenancy legally comes to an end

Even after the guarantor agreement ends, your guarantor still needs to pay any outstanding costs that were not paid during the agreement.

Finding a guarantor

There are no set rules for who can be a guarantor. You can ask anyone you trust. Landlords usually ask for guarantors to live in the UK because it’s easier for them to take legal action if they need to.

Your guarantor will usually need to show they have a high enough income to cover the rent. Your landlord should tell you what they think is a high enough income for the tenancy you’re trying to rent.

The landlord might ask your guarantor for:

references
a credit check
proof of their income

Landlords cannot charge fees for any of these checks.

If you’re a student

Your university might offer a guarantor scheme for students who cannot get a UK-based guarantor of their own. Ask your student services team if there’s any help available to you.

If you cannot find a guarantor

You can ask the landlord if there are any other ways you can show the tenancy is affordable for you. You could offer to:

pay up to a maximum of 6 months rent in advance
provide bank statements showing regular rent payments of a similar amount
provide bank statements showing you have savings

For advice on maximising your income, contact a money adviser at:

If you cannot afford a private tenancy, check our advice on finding a home.

Last updated: 27 November 2024