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AIBU?

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Original poster

Can't get a guarantor for student accommodation

76 replies

EddyF · 20/08/2018 19:13

Sorry probably wrong place to post. Has anyone been through this? Niece has been aacepted at a university outside London. Missed out on student accommodation provided by the university so has a few viewings from estate agents. She's just received an email from one confirming the viewing but also states "all students need a guarantor.

There is absolutely no one in the immediate family that can help with this.

Is there a way to get around this issue? rent will be paid by maintenance from SL.

Thanks

OP posts:
hidinginthenightgarden · 20/08/2018 19:20

She could offer the rent 1 term at a time?

DelphiniumBlue · 20/08/2018 19:21

If she can't provide a guarantor, has she got savings so that she could pay the rent up front? Unlikely for a youngster, I know.
The problem is, that she will only get the SL on a termly basis, so if for example she drops out in the first term, then she won't get the SL for the next 2 terms to pay the rent, which is due for the whole year. I think this would also be the case with halls, they are all worried that they might not get their rent.
It's a real problem, it may be that she has to defer for a year so that she can work and save enough to cover the rent.
Maybe there are places that offer help with this? Like Student Union, and worth discussing with accommodation officer at Uni, they must have experience of this.
Sorry can't offer anything more positive.

CripsSandwiches · 20/08/2018 19:21

Unless anyone has a lump sump (often six months rent so not easy!). Is there really no one who could act as a guarantor - I thought it just involved agreeing to pay the rent in the event that DN was unable to?

Glumglowworm · 20/08/2018 19:23

Are the student union able to offer any advice? She can’t be the first student to be in this position.

NewYearNewMe18 · 20/08/2018 19:24

Why cant her parents (or you) stand as guarantors (or is that a daft Q ?)

SnowyAlps · 20/08/2018 19:29

I’m assuming no one will pass the credit checks to act for her. It’s one of the reasons ds is commuting as if he needed a guarantor we would have struggled as a family.

Sorry OP I can only suggest contacting the student union or the universities student support services. They may have landlords who deal with this type of problem. After all, she won’t be the only student who’s parents can not act as one.

Original poster
EddyF · 20/08/2018 19:38

Thanks all. Reading the info and noting down advice.

OP posts:
BuntyII · 20/08/2018 19:40

When I was a student i don't remember my guarantor being credit checked.

BigLass9 · 20/08/2018 19:58

I couldn't sign for my DC and eventually the landlord agreed to waiver it. I wouldn't sleep at night worrying about being responsible for that if they couldn't pay or left. I can only just pay my bills and have 3 younger DC. One thin g i learned is only sign for something if you can afford to pay it.

If parents stopped signing these then there would be less demand for it. It wasn't so common years back. There are places out there but may need to look further or convince landlord. If there is 6 and 1 doesn't have a guarentour then landlord will prob waive it. That's what DD did. There is also landlords insurance etc.

BigLass9 · 20/08/2018 20:00

I thought it just involved agreeing to pay the rent in the event that DN was unable to?

Just?? That would make me unable to pay my own bills and mortgage. Lots of parents don't have hundreds a month spare.

SuburbanRhonda · 20/08/2018 20:02

I thought it just involved agreeing to pay the rent in the event that DN was unable to

You have to be earning over a certain amount (it was £37,000 when DD went to uni). Anyone can say they’ll pay the rent in the event of a default. You have to prove you can.

It’s so tough, not just for students but for families in private rentals. One of the families I support didn’t even know anyone in work, never mind on £37k Sad.

SuburbanRhonda · 20/08/2018 20:05

You also need to watch out for a shared tenancy where the guarantor is liable for the rent of any of the other tenants sharing the tenancy.

Make sure she has her own, individual tenancy agreement.

SnowyAlps · 20/08/2018 20:09

SuburbanRhonda makes a really good point. In our situation I couldn’t contribute much as I am not working as am now disabled. Exdp is on roughly 70k, however take out his mortage and what he’s pays to his exw in child maintenance, and he wouldn’t have enough to cover ds’s rent either. It’s not as easy as people think.

Dungeondragon15 · 20/08/2018 20:20

Just?? That would make me unable to pay my own bills and mortgage. Lots of parents don't have hundreds a month spare.

If it was my own child I would trust them to pay their rent though so wouldn't be worrying about whether I have hundreds to spare. I'm sure that is true of most parents who act as guarantor.

onceandneveragain · 20/08/2018 20:23

Agree with suburban Rhonda - when I was in uni they tried to make all of our parents sign a guarantor saying each would be liable for all of us - so 6x£5grand. I'm amazed so many parent sign it, it's a huge liability. Lots of people have never even met whoever their child is sharing a house with and have no recourse if they default once they've signed it. It's bad enough being responsible for your own adult offspring let alone complete strangers!

If she is utterly desperate and knows she will have the money she could pay upfront on a 0%credit card and then pay it off each month when she gets the money for rent?

myusernamewastakenbyme · 20/08/2018 20:40

I have 2 sons at uni and am the guarantor for both of them....im a lone parent on shit money but i own my own home which i think is the qualifying criteria.

melonposies12 · 20/08/2018 20:50

I graduated only last year - our parents were guarantors and they didn’t own their own homes. They just had to be working full time and prepared to pay in case we lapsed on payments. I thought it was different for students than normal renting. It might have changed but certainly didn’t have credit checks done

RedTitsMcGinty · 20/08/2018 21:04

Some universities/student unions run a rent guarantor scheme, although this is often for overseas students with no family in the U.K. It’s definitely worth speaking to student support — especially if she missed out on university accommodation (as often universities state they will house first years in halls or help provide alternatives).

pengymum · 20/08/2018 21:04

Just been through this for DD1. Had to provide evidence of sufficient savings as my income wasn’t enough to satisfy the credit reference agency! But it is individual tenancy NOT joint & several. So not liable for others. But shared houses are difficult if everyone doesn’t keep things tidy & clean. So big risk of deposit being lost. 🙁

SuburbanRhonda · 20/08/2018 21:08

im a lone parent on shit money but i own my own home which i think is the qualifying criteria.

Surely that means the only way you could pay if your sons defaulted would be to sell your house? I wouldn’t sign up for that if you paid me!

Treacletoots · 20/08/2018 21:14

There are companies who offer to be guarantors for overseas students. Maybe they also do home grown ones too... Worth a Google

Munchyseeds · 20/08/2018 21:14

Recently had to do this for DS...spoke to the letting agent and what it basically means is that if any of the 5 kids default they will come after any/all gaurentors to get the money.
The agent telling me 'it never happens!' did not fill me with confidence

flopsyrabbit1 · 20/08/2018 21:33

my son is signed up to the uni's on site accomadation £125 pw and im his guarantor

ive had no checks and am on benefits as my only income

argentino · 20/08/2018 21:34

The person my sister wanted to rent with had a similar issue. Their issue was resolved by their university (UCL) acting as a guarantor.

scaryteacher · 20/08/2018 21:39

Might be worth checking with the uni accommodation bods if they have a list of approved landlords who will offer single rooms. Ds did this in Year 2 and stayed with the same l/l for two years. Individual tenancy agreement and no guarantor needed.