Who can be a rent guarantor?

If you are renting in the UK, you may be asked to provide a guarantor before your tenancy can go ahead. But for many renters, especially students, international renters, or people early in their careers, this can quickly become one of the biggest obstacles to securing a home.

In theory, you might already understand what a guarantor is, but the question many renters actually struggle with is this:

Who can be a rent guarantor, and what happens if I don’t have one? This guide sets out the requirements clearly. It covers what landlords look for, who in your life is most likely to qualify, and what to do if no one around you meets the criteria.

What a guarantor actually does

A guarantor is someone who signs a legal document alongside your tenancy agreement. That document is called a guarantor agreement, and it means the guarantor agrees to pay your rent if you do not pay it yourself. If you would like the basics first, our explainer on what a guarantor is covers the role in full.

A guarantor gives landlords and accommodation providers reassurance. If the rent is not paid, they have a named person they can turn to, and that matters most when a tenant is new to the UK and does not yet have a long financial history here.

The role carries real responsibility. A guarantor agreement usually covers more than rent. It can also include damage to the property beyond normal wear and tear, as well as any charges at the end of the tenancy. Anyone you ask should understand the risks of being a guarantor before they agree to sign.

One detail surprises many people. In a shared home, a guarantor may be subject to joint and several liability. This means they may be responsible for the rent for everyone named on the agreement, not only the person they intended to support. Our guide to joint and several liability explains how this works.

It helps to keep in mind that this is a serious financial commitment, not a character reference. Whoever you ask could be responsible for costs that run into thousands of pounds. That is why landlords set strict rules about who qualifies, and why it is worth choosing someone who both understands the commitment and meets those criteria.

The core requirements most landlords set

Each landlord or letting agent may set slightly different requirements for a guarantor. However, most guarantor checks follow a similar pattern. Here are the main requirements your guarantor will usually need to meet.

UK residency

Most landlords require the guarantor to be a UK resident with a permanent UK address. This allows them to carry out credit checks, verify income, and enforce the agreement if necessary.
For international students, this rule is often the biggest challenge. If your parents live outside the UK, they may not qualify, even if they have a high income. It is a practical limit, not a reflection of your family's ability to support you.

Age

Guarantors usually need to be at least 18 years old and under 75 by the end of the tenancy. The upper age limit exists because the guarantor must be legally and financially able to cover the agreement until it ends. Retirement does not disqualify anyone, but the guarantor must demonstrate consistent income or savings sufficient to meet the income threshold.

Sufficient income

The guarantor usually needs to earn a minimum yearly income. A common threshold is two to three times the yearly rent. If your rent is £800 a month, which is £9,600 a year, the landlord may require your guarantor to earn between £19,200 and £28,800.

Some landlords accept pension income, rental income, or other steady sources of income. Others require employment income only. Check the specific terms before you ask someone to apply.

Good credit history

Landlords or their referencing agencies will run credit checks on the guarantor. The guarantor, therefore, needs a clean or strong UK credit record. This means no recent missed payments, defaults, County Court Judgments (CCJs), or Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs). A CCJ is a court order for unpaid debt, and an IVA is a formal agreement to repay debts over time.
Even someone willing to help may be declined if their credit file does not meet the required standard. This includes people who have recently moved to the UK or who have never borrowed money. The referencing agency needs enough credit history to confirm that the person manages money well.

Homeownership (often required)

Some landlords prefer or require the guarantor to own property in the UK. This gives the landlord extra security, because a homeowner has an asset that could, in theory, be used to settle a debt. Not all landlords insist on this, but it does come up and is more common in higher-value tenancies.

Which people in your life are most likely to qualify

Now that you know what landlords look for, you can match those requirements against the people you know.

Parents and close family members

Family members are the most common choice. A parent, step-parent, or grandparent who lives in the UK is a strong option. If they earn a steady income and have a clean credit record, they will usually pass referencing without trouble.

If your parents live abroad, most landlords are unlikely to accept them. This does not mean you have no options. It means you will need to consider other routes, such as a professional guarantor service like Housing Hand.

Other relatives

Aunts, uncles, older siblings, and cousins can all stand as guarantors if they meet the criteria. There is no legal rule that the guarantor must be a parent. The landlord cares about income, credit, and residency.

If you have a relative in the UK who you trust and who meets the financial requirements, they are worth approaching. Be clear about what the role involves before you ask.

Friends and colleagues

A guarantor does not need to be related to you at all. A friend, mentor, employer, or colleague can agree to be a guarantor if they meet the landlord's requirements. In practice, this is less common because the financial risk is large. Most people are understandably cautious about covering someone else's rent.

If someone outside your family does agree, make sure they understand the full scope of the guarantor agreement before they sign. The commitment lasts for the full term of the tenancy and can continue if the tenancy extends beyond the fixed term.

What happens if your first choice does not pass

Sometimes the person you had in mind will not qualify. Perhaps they do not earn enough. Maybe their credit record has a recent mark, or they live outside the UK.

If your first choice does not qualify, the next step is to think more broadly. Other family members, friends, or colleagues might meet the criteria. Our guide to finding a guarantor walks through the practical steps. If no one in your circle qualifies, a professional guarantor service is the alternative most renters use.

Questions to ask before you approach someone

Before you approach a potential guarantor, it helps to think through a few things. These questions can save you and the other person time and discomfort.

• Does this person live in the UK? If not, most landlords will not accept them.
• Do they earn enough? Check the landlord's income threshold first.
• Are they comfortable with credit checks being run on them? Some people prefer not to have their finances examined.
• Do they understand the full commitment? The guarantor could be asked to cover the full rent and any damage costs if you do not pay.
• Is the relationship strong enough to handle a financial agreement? Money can put pressure on personal relationships, so be honest with yourself about this.

If the answer to any of these is uncertain, it may be better to consider a guarantor service instead.

What the guarantor referencing process looks like

Once someone agrees to be your guarantor, the landlord or letting agent will run a referencing and credit check. This usually includes proof of identity, proof of address, and proof of income.
The process usually takes a few working days. Your guarantor will need to respond to the referencing agency quickly, so let them know in advance that paperwork will be needed. Delays at this stage can push back your tenancy start date.

Make sure your guarantor reads any documents carefully before signing. The guarantor agreement should clearly state what they are responsible for and for how long. If anything is unclear, they should ask the letting agent to explain it before they agree.

When no one you know qualifies

For many renters, no one they know meets all the requirements, particularly those who have recently arrived in the UK. The income threshold, the UK residency rule, and the credit check together rule out many of the people who would happily help. International students often have no family here. Graduates starting their first job may not yet know anyone who can take on the role. Working professionals who have relocated can be in the same position.

In the past, some renters were asked for several months' rent in advance when no guarantor was available. The rules on rent in advance have since changed, and our Renters' Rights guide explains the current position.

If you have reached this point, the most common alternative is a professional guarantor service. Our explainer on what a professional guarantor is sets out how this works.

Housing Hand has operated since 2013 and is the UK's leading rent guarantor service, partnered with more than 4,000 accommodation providers across the UK. Our rent guarantor service is widely recognised by landlords, letting agents, and student accommodation providers, making securing a tenancy straightforward in most cases. We stand as your guarantor in place of a personal one, sign the agreement directly with your landlord, and take on the legal responsibility for the length of your tenancy.

Five things define how we work:

• We do not run credit checks on you or on your co-signer. Your application is assessed on document verification, such as ID, proof of address, and proof of income or study, rather than on credit history.
• Your co-signer provides only ID and proof of address. They do not need a credit check, do not need to own property or earn a set income, and do not need to be related to you. They are a second point of contact, liable for payment only if you stop paying.
• If you ever have trouble paying your rent, we will pay the landlord on your behalf. We then agree to a repayment plan with you to help you stay in your home and avoid eviction.
• Every guarantor customer gets free 24/7 access to NHS-practising GPs and wellbeing support through our HealthHero partnership.
• You can apply for a pre-approved guarantor through our Guarantor Passport® before you have found somewhere to live.

Using a guarantor service does not reflect badly on you as a tenant. It is a practical solution for a gap in the UK rental market that affects international students, new professionals, and anyone whose support network does not include a UK-based, high-earning person with a strong credit file. If a personal guarantor is not an option for you, our guarantor service page explains how the process works from application through to approval.