Would you go guarantor?

[JeannieJo]

I have a sibling who is fairly challenging, probably ND.

I have been asked by them to be guarantor on a previous house rental. I agreed on the basis they would pay the rent on time and take out house / contents insurance (I’m not sure what kind of insurance you need for a rental and if you need both house and contents). They paid the rent this time but didn’t take out insurance. They’ve withheld rent before when repairs haven’t been done as requested. To be fair, the repairs needed done and had been repeatedly requested. However I do worry how this would impact on me.

I feel uncomfortable being guarantor again if they decided to withhold rent again and / or didn’t get insurance and something happened. I don’t know how much I could potentially be held liable for.

AIBU to say no to being guarantor for their next property?

If you're not comfortable, don't do it!

I used to be a receptionist at a private client firm and the number of people who would call up distraught about having huge debt due to being a guarantor was quite high. I think you just have to be clear that their debt becomes your debt and what that means.

You have enough £££ to pay up if they don’t ?

Definitely a no.

Absolutely would not be a guarantor in this situation. You don't stop paying rent because repairs haven't been done as you are immediately in breach of tenancy. I presume they only did this once or briefly previously?

However, I don't know why you are demanding they have house/contents insurance? The building insurance is generally the landlord's responsibility and if your brother chooses not to have contents insurance then surely that is his loss if he suffers from a fire, theft etc?

There are companies that will act as guarantors for your relative for a fee (£200?), do not feel obliged to do it for them.

I would do what you did, its a no brainer being a guarantor

But its a landlords market - i would be pissed off about the rent withholding, unless it was done with my express consent, which it sounds like it wasnt?

I'd make it clear that you won't be a guarantor for them in the future if they decide to withhold rent again, as its you who is responsible. And follow through if such a scenario happens

Yanbu x

I would potentially but I don’t want to be forced to have to pay if they refuse to pay themselves due to their own principles.

Don’t do it then. Never agree to be guarantor unless you’re capable & prepared to pay because ultimately you may need to.

No no no no no

Absolutely not.

But that's what a guarantor is for. Most of them are drafted so as soon as the landlord doesn't get payment from the tenant they can pursue you. Regardless of why.

Thanks - very helpful. It’s happened more than once now.

Thats good to know about the insurance. I realise that their belongings would be gone without contents insurance, and relieved landlord would have buildings insurance. Problem is they’d be asking to live with me if that happened and that would literally kill me.

Thank you for this. No, rent was withheld without my consent or agreement. It makes me feel ill and I fear they’re going to end up on the street as they’ll get a reputation or be black listed or something.

They said before that of course they would pay up and it wouldn’t affect me. Since then they’ve withheld rent. Thankfully I wasn’t guarantor on that place.

I wouldn't even consider this, they don't sound reliable despite their promises. Tell them no

We have been guarantors for our children when they were at uni but since we were paying the rent it didn’t matter.
I absolutely would not be guarantor for anybody else. So much can go wrong and by not paying their rent your sibling has not kept to their promise.
You really do not have to let them live with you. I take it your sibling is a bit of a problem.

Their principles should be secondary to you being ont the line for it. You have to be clear with your sibling about that up front. Of course, there's a lot of scummy, predatory landlords out there so I have a lot of sympathy in those situations where they aren't repsonding to needed requests. But it changes things when you involve someone else that you had to depend on.

ETA just saw that you weren't on the line for the last one, I misunderstood and that does change things a bit.

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

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?

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.

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 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.

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.

Thanks and yes, there’s a lot that goes on 🥺