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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

£75k salary, landlord wants parents as guarantors

233 replies

Sadleaver · 22/06/2023 17:24

I'm 35, earn £75k a year in a stable industry, as a permanent member of staff. I've been renting for 12 years and have glowing past landlord references. Excellent credit score.

Just agreed a new tenancy on a flat after a stressful 6 week hunt. It's £1250pm. Passed all the reference checks. And the letting agent is now asking for my PARENTS to be guarantors! I have to provide evidence of their income and it has to be above a certain amount. I'm honestly done with this bullshit. This is insane right?

OP posts:
Gizlotsmum · 22/06/2023 17:26

That is ridiculous?!

Agix · 22/06/2023 17:26

Yep, that's pretty wild

Iamclearlyamug · 22/06/2023 17:26

Sounds insane to me with that salary! Sadly in this crazy market landlords can basically ask for the moon on a stick and someone will find it for them 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️😪

LolaSmiles · 22/06/2023 17:26

That's ridiculous.

Punf · 22/06/2023 17:27

Tell them you don't have parents but you've manged so far in your own salary!

FoundAKittenOops · 22/06/2023 17:27

Barmy. Absolutely barmy.

Blarn · 22/06/2023 17:27

Has the landlord mixed up your application with someone else's? Both my parents are retired, they couldn't afford to pay rent!

Fandabedodgy · 22/06/2023 17:28

Absolutely insane

Wishitsnows · 22/06/2023 17:28

Totally ridiculous. You earn plenty for a rent of that size. Plus you have a 12 year history. What if your parents had passed away?

Original poster
Sadleaver · 22/06/2023 17:28

Yeah the letting agent has said 'in the current climate we're asking new tenants to provide guarantors, preferably your parents.' I also wonder if it's because I'm single?

OP posts:
Augend23 · 22/06/2023 17:28

Ask them if they accidentally sent you an email they meant to send to a university student?

That's utterly mad.

Wenfy · 22/06/2023 17:31

Cousin’s a cardiologist on £100k+ and he was also asked for a guarantor. He has the savings so got around it by offering the first 6 mths rent in advance - maybe you could do similar?

Original poster
Sadleaver · 22/06/2023 17:32

Exactly @Wishitsnows. I don't have much of a relationship with my dad, he lives in the US, and my mum has a disability and only works part time. They're asking for the guarantors to have a monthly income of £2k so they could cover the cost of the rent in case I can't! Urgh.

OP posts:
Longwhiskers · 22/06/2023 17:34

We earn over 100k together and have just been through this with a rental. We put my brother in law down as guarantor. I just assumed it is standard work for the agency and it doesn’t depend on salary - one size fits all kind of thing. My BIL was laughing about it.

TomatoSandwiches · 22/06/2023 17:34

That's a fucking joke.

motherofawhirlwind · 22/06/2023 17:34

OMG! You're 35 FFS! Madness!!!

DeedlessIndeed · 22/06/2023 17:37

We were asked for similar in 2017 when had moved city and were renting. There was zero consideration that the rent was such a low % of our salaries.

It wasn't appropriate for us to get a guarantor due to family circumstance so we paid 6 months rent up front. Obviously not possible for everyone but given your salary is that an option?

BatildaB · 22/06/2023 17:38

Can you ask in return for a check that the landlord’s mum can cover any repairs that the landlord can’t stretch to?

SlightlygrumpyBettyswaitress · 22/06/2023 17:38

Seriously mental.
When dd was 19 and rented a house with her boyfriend, one agency wanted me to be a guarantor. I simply refused. Next place were perfectly happy, they had good credit ref and earned enough to pat for it!

Nowanextraone · 22/06/2023 17:41

Oh it's utterly ridiculous isn't it?
We sold our house to live into a rental before we relocate next year.
We showed £300k in savings (from the house sale) and were told it doesn't count because it hasn't been in my account for 3 months. We also had £30k savings, and they wouldn't include that as it was in a fixed savings account that I need to give 1 month notice for.
It was the most awful experience.

Nikki305 · 22/06/2023 17:42

BatildaB · 22/06/2023 17:38

Can you ask in return for a check that the landlord’s mum can cover any repairs that the landlord can’t stretch to?

Haha brilliant! Definitely do this!

NeverendingCircus · 22/06/2023 17:43

That is utterly ridiculous. Can you consider buying somewhere small instead? On that salary you should get a reasonable mortgage.

SeaSaltAir · 22/06/2023 17:44

That’s fucking insane!

NeverendingCircus · 22/06/2023 17:45

BatildaB · 22/06/2023 17:38

Can you ask in return for a check that the landlord’s mum can cover any repairs that the landlord can’t stretch to?

Brilliant. And tempting. DS is paying a bloody fortune for a flat that hasn't had overhead lighting since he moved in 9 months ago!

IcyPenguin101 · 22/06/2023 17:45

Most Landlords can get insurance/guarantees from the referencing company where you have passed the company’s referencing in order to cover loss of rent or evictions etc. Asking someone who passed referencing to provide a guarantor is ludicrous! Though I guess they can ask for whatever they want. I think it sets the tone for what they are going to be like generally as a landlord (a nightmare).