I can't get a guarantor, what can I do?
There could be a few reasons why you can’t get a guarantor, here’s a breakdown of some solutions depending on your situation.
My landlord wants a UK guarantor but I don’t have one
Not all landlords ask for a guarantor form, so it’s worth looking around. You shouldn’t pay a substantial advance instead as it could be hard to get this money back at the end of your contract.
It may be possible to offer to pay a double deposit, or why not try University accommodation as they don’t need a guarantor. If you’re struggling to find accommodation that suits you, get in touch with us at LUU Advice and we can help you look.
Make sure you don’t sign a contract if you know you need a guarantor and you can’t get one, they could stop you from moving in.
I have signed a contract but my parents won’t sign the guarantor form
If you got the guarantor form after the contract, you could argue that you don’t have to have a guarantor because it wasn’t part of the contractual agreement.
If you were given the guarantor form before or during the contract talks, then you’ve agreed to provide a guarantor as part of signing up. You may be able to negotiate with the landlord to pay a higher deposit or an additional month’s rent in advance instead. Your parents may not want to sign the form if you have a joint tenancy agreement it makes them liable for your other housemates’ rent too. If that’s the case, it may be possible to ask the landlord for a ‘limited guarantor’. This means your parents signing to say that they are only responsible for your share of the rent, it would need to state how much this is on the guarantor form.
Make sure that you check your contract using our online contract checking tool.
The landlord says my parents aren’t suitable guarantors
Some landlords require guarantors to be a homeowner or have a certain amount of income. The landlord should give you a copy of the guarantor form before you sign your contract, and the terms should be clear. If they don’t then you could argue you don’t have to provide a guarantor.
If the contract states you require a guarantor form, but you didn’t know the set conditions, then your parent can still sign even if they don’t meet the criteria.If you knew the guarantor conditions before you signed the contract then you have to meet these conditions. The first step will be to discuss the issue with the landlord to see if there are other options e.g. paying a double deposit or an additional month’s rent.
If you can’t find a solution with the landlord get in touch with us at LUU Advice.