Guarantors

In most cases, you will be required to provide a guarantor. A guarantor is someone who will guarantee to pay for your rent or damage incurred at the property if you fail to do so.

This is part of our information on Renting Off Campus covering House Hunting and Before You Move In.

A guarantor is someone who agrees to cover your rent or any property damage if you fail to pay. If neither of you pay what’s been agreed, the landlord can apply for a county court judgement against either or both of you.

Typically, landlords require a guarantor to be based in the UK, as it is easier for them to take legal action against a UK resident.  

Guarantor Agreements

If you are asked to provide a guarantor, you can limit the guarantor’s liability by making sure the guarantor agreement clearly states: 

  • The name of the tenant being guaranteed
  • The start and end dates of the guarantee
  • The maximum amount guaranteed.  If you have a joint tenancy, make sure the guarantee does not apply to all the rent rather than just one person’s share.

Both you and your guarantor should read the tenancy and guarantor agreement carefully before signing. An adviser can review your tenancy and guarantor agreement at a SASS contract check.  

Professional Rent Guarantor Services

If you don’t have a UK-based guarantor, you could use a professional guarantor service. These are companies that, for a fee, act as your guarantor by agreeing to cover your rent if you are unable to pay. You will usually need to repay the guarantor if they pay rent on your behalf. 

Examples of rent guarantor services include (but may not be limited to):

Make sure you check the T&C’s for the most up to date and accurate information.

When selecting a rent guarantor service, it is important to consider:

  • Eligibility criteria
    •  Make sure the scheme fits your personal circumstances.
  • Cost
    • Check out costs as they can vary.
    • Check out when you need to make payment – some require payment up front while with others you can pay monthly
  • Application process
    • How easy is the application process?
    • What supporting documentation do you need to provide
  • Reviews
    • Check for reviews online

Please note that Loughborough University has no association with or experience of these services and cannot make any recommendations. 

Last Updated: 10th November 2025