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?

Thanks, that is very helpful to hear. Presumably you’d go hard after the person renting first before moving on to the guarantor?

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.

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

Exactly my concerns, thanks

Never again

if they don’t pay you do

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.

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.

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

“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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

Not a chance

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.

The Guarantor Agreement

• 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.

Things to Consider Before Signing

• 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.

Who Can Be a Guarantor?

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

Risks No Immediate Impact: Simply agreeing to be a guarantor doesn’t show up on your credit report or affect your credit score unless the tenant defaults. If the Tenant Defaults: You become legally responsible for the unpaid rent or damages. If you fail to pay, the landlord can take legal action, and this could be recorded on your credit file, damaging your score.

• 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.

Being guarantor for a rental property is high risk as they cannot be evicted for non payment as you’d need to pay it.. and you have no right to evict them or stop paying. The landlord could only evict them if their behavior was anti social but as long as they (or you) pay the rent then they could stay there forever. Not to mention you are liable for any damage. I was told you can’t withdraw your guarantee either (but check that out). So I’d encourage your sibling to move and then refuse to be guarantor one they’ve submitted their notice to quit the old flat.

You don’t need insurance for a rental.

but it’s completely your decision.

Nope, you've done your bit, time for someone else to be a suckered, sorry. Xxx

ABSOLUTELY NOT. DONTDO IT FOR ANYONE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES

Nope. Never, ever, ever. Not for anyone, not in any circumstance.

I would never be a guarantor for anyone apart from my ds

there are guarantor service companies that will cover this at a cost obviously

Never, rent can be too much money in total to risk being liable for it. I might consider it for my children, with an agreement in the contract capping how much I could be responsible for, but that depends on the circumstances.