What is Guarantor?
Last verified 31 October 2026
A guarantor is a person who agrees to pay a tenant's rent or other tenancy costs if the tenant cannot. A landlord can ask for a suitable guarantor as a condition of the let, for example for a student or a first time renter.
Why it matters to landlords
Under the Tenant Fees Act as amended, a landlord or agent cannot require a tenant, someone acting for the tenant, or a guarantor to make payments that are not on the permitted list. The statutory guidance says a guarantor also must not be required to take out a loan, pay for insurance or enter a contract for a service. Referencing and administration costs are the landlord's own costs of setting up the let.
Rent in advance is also not permitted for assured tenancies, so a guarantor cannot be used as a reason to ask for extra payments up front. Many landlords use a separate written guarantee that the guarantor signs, and keep the guarantor's contact details with the tenancy records.
Example
Ewan lets a flat to a student who has no credit history. He asks the student's mother to act as guarantor and signs a separate guarantee with her. He pays for the referencing himself and does not charge the student or the guarantor for arranging it.
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