Would you go guarantor?

As a guarantor (in England) you need to understand your legal responsibilities:-

• Rent Payments: If the tenant misses rent, you’re legally obligated to pay it.
• Property Damage: Many guarantor agreements also cover costs for damage caused by the tenant.
• Joint Tenancy Risk: If the tenant is in a shared rental under a joint tenancy, you could be liable for the entire rent—not just their portion.

• It’s a legal contract, often separate from the tenancy agreement.
• It must be in writing, and once signed, you’re bound by its terms.
• Some agreements are open-ended, meaning your liability could continue beyond the initial rental period, including rent increases or tenancy renewals.

• Read everything carefully—both the tenancy and guarantor agreements.
• Negotiate terms if needed. You can ask to limit your liability to just the tenant’s share or to a fixed term.
• Seek legal advice if anything is unclear. Organisations like Citizens Advice or Shelter can help.

• Usually a UK resident—landlords prefer this for legal enforcement.
• Often a homeowner or someone with a strong credit history.

• Future Borrowing: Even if no default occurs, lenders may still ask about any guarantor obligations when assessing your affordability. It’s considered a potential liability, which could reduce how much you’re allowed to borrow.

Being a guarantor is a generous act, but it’s not just a formality—it’s a financial safety net for the landlord, and a potential liability for you.

Not a chance

We acted as guarantor for our children whilst they were at uni but as we were paying their rent anyway, it didn’t matter.
I would never act as guarantor for anyone else.

No. I was a guarantor for my son’s uni rental but wouldn’t consider it again.

It’s easy to have principles when it’s not your money at risk 😂

you could be on the hook for thousands
it will also affect your ability to remortgage / get a mortgage further credit if you need any as it will be taken into account

honestly just don’t do it

They have a history of withholding rent. Just that would be a hell to the no.

They didn't live up to your conditions and that you're even considering it again means you need stronger boundaries with your sibling.

This is likely why the new landlord wants a guarantor. You will become responsible for the entire rent.

Don't do it!

Every few weeks the “lending money to friend / family” thread turns up (and acting as a guarantor is a form of lending money).

Here’s the golden rule: Never, ever lend money to friends or family you wouldn’t be happy gifting to them.

That is all.

I have only ever done this once and for my brother. But my brother is a 100% top notch man who I'd trust with my life. He's basically about the only person in the world I'd trust enough to do this for. (He needed it because he is self employed and this particular landlord reuqested it). He never let me down and has since moved out and into his own property.

I would never agree to it in the circumstance you describe, OP.

“Problem is they’d be asking to live with me if that happened and that would literally kill me.”

OP, you don’t have to be a guarantor - I’d advise against it as strongly as possible - nor do you have to accommodate your ND brother unless you choose to. So don’t. If he’s “fairly challenging”, are you going to let him guilt you into doing things you don’t want to, particularly when they could have serious repercussions that will adversely affect your quality of life? Just say no. Don’t stand as guarantor - you put yourself in a very vulnerable position if you do so. And for heaven’s sake, don’t let him move in with you, if you value your sanity and your own family.

But that’s what you’re signing up for 🤷🏻‍♀️
You already know there’s a very real chance she’ll do it.

Actually we'd go harder after the guarantor. In most cases the tenant actually couldn't pay, whereas we would know the guarantor had the means to pay and the contract would just stipulate both were liable. If the guarantor didn't want to pay then they could strong arm the tenant. All we were interested in was getting the rent we were owed.

You are opening yourself up to limitless expenses by acting as a guarantor. The landlord will go after whoever has the money to pay i.e. YOU. The property could be trashed by renter's friends, they could damage neighbouring properties (leaks), you could be in for thousands. You understandably don't trust your relative so don't be a guarantor.

Never again

if they don’t pay you do

Nope, nope, nopity-nope. Ever, for anybody.

They will pursue the renter of course, but they will very quickly go after the hapless guarantor who has legally put themselves on the hook.

Do not do it.

Don't ever EVER make this mistake again OP. Its all very lovely for your sibling to have "principles" but as withholding rent on principle means YOU would be paying their arrears they can jog on!

As for them "having" to live with you - NO! Absolutely NOT!! There are alternatives.

Don't set yourself on fire to keep another warm. This isn't your child, this is an adult who must stand on their own 2 feet.

I bet there's a whole history of you holding up this person while they waltz around. Stop it.

I worked in rentals for a time. It always astounded me how surprised guarantors were when we came after them, and came after them hard. They seemed to think it was a formality or something. I'd never do it and would caution anyone against it.

Honestly, theyre really chancing it, in this day and age, withholding rent 😬

A section 21 notice can be issued so promptly, you have to be so polite and careful. And tbh, there are some landlords will just move the furniture out onto the street and change the locks, end of.

They've had their issues sorted now, so I'd be absolutely clear, any further problems and i'm done. And that includes not sorting out insurance!

I had to be guarantor for my elder DC's student rent. I would not agree to this again.
When my DS number 3, who's living with us, mentioned the word "guarantor", I told him: it's a no for anything:car, rent, education. It's just a no.

They said before that of course they would pay up and it wouldn’t affect me

They often do when it's the only way of getting you to agree, but clearly what they commit to do - in this case continue paying the rent - matters little to them, so for me it would be a definite no

There are commercial "guarantor services", so why not point them towards one of these instead?

Absolutely not, unless it is money you can easily afford to lose.