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?

No, not if it is easier to move on the the guarantor. All the landlord wants is the rent, they don't care where it comes from.

As has been said, the landlord/agent will come after YOU @JeannieJo if the person you are guarantor for doesn't pay their rent. And YOU will end up with a default on your credit record, or bailiffs turning up at your door. (If you don't pay.) I've seen it happen. It does happen.

I think some people actually think being a guarantor is the same as giving a reference. It's not. YOU are responsible for the person's rent or debts. It's literally your debt.

I would never, and have never been a guarantor, not even for my DC. I (and DH) gave them both the first 6 months rent (for their student house at Uni,) when they had no credit rating. Fortunately, both landlords were happy with that. (Yes, I know some people aren't in the position to do this, but we were. We weren't minted but we had some savings.)

No way were we signing an open-ended agreement, to potentially end up paying multiple 1000s of pounds for any non-payment of rent or damages to the property by our DC, or anyone else living there. How fucking DARE they (many landlords and property agencies) expect people to sign an agreement to pay some other adult's debt?! That's what the jointly and severally liable agreement is that you have to sign for your DC in a Uni student house. Yeah, pretty much all parents are asked to pay it, but they will come after you all if one doesn't pay!

I found that a much better idea than signing an open-ended agreement (that would also included paying rent for my DC, or any other tenants who didn't pay, and any damages by my DC - or any other tenant.) Could have been a 5-figure sum in the end. And as has been said, the landlord will come after the guarantor if they can't get the tenant to pay.

And as @angela1952 said, no they won't come down really hard on the tenant first, they will go to them first obviously, and try to get them to pay it for a month or 2, then they will come after the guarantor, and the guarantor will be targeted for the debts. (And be taken to court/have bailiffs turning up, if they don't pay!)

It's appalling that parents are expected to be guarantor for their young adult DC. In fact, it's a fucking cheek to ask anyone to do it really! You're basically taking on someone's debt.

I have guaranteed rent for DCs, but I would not do it for anyone else. The liabilities can be huge and the guarantees are quite frequently called upon.

I have come across on here that there are now companies that your sibling can pay to act as a guarantor, a bit like buying insurance.

It might be worth looking into.

I think you are right to be very cautious given the potential exposure and history. I would say you have looked into the extent of it and simply can't afford it (which most people can't, really). Much better that they pay an affordable amount than you have the risk of an astronomical liability - you are not an insurance company.

No, you’re not.

Don't do it.

No no no, Don't do it!!! You'll be held responsible for paying the unpaid payments/bills etc. My daughter agreed to do this for someone she thought was a good friend and it all went tits up when the "friend" stopped making the monthly payments and she couldn't get out of it, she had to to pay the bill every month until the debt was paid off. Be warned!

Up to you, I would only ever do it for my DC at Uni
As for Insurance you don't NEED to take out any insurance as a Tenant and if your sibling took out Contents cover that wouldn't help if they defaulted on their rent as it has no connection to rent paying (or not paying)

Thanks so much for your really helpful reply - really good advice and I appreciate it.

One thing I don’t really understand is why don’t they go legally after the renter first before going after the guarantor, or would they try that first? Thanks again!

Thanks - I knew the insurance would have no benefits on the rent side of things but (without knowing better) I was worried that if something happened to the house E.g. fire, and they weren’t insured, then I might be liable for that too.

Unlikley
The only way a Tenant (or Guarantor) would be liable for damage would be if it was deliberate or negligent and insurance wouldn't cover that anyway.
A Tenant can't really insure the building or the landlords contents either, only their own

So its worth looking at why the Landlord has asked for a guarantor in the first place:

Why a Tenant Might Need a Guarantor

• Low or unstable income: If the tenant doesn’t earn enough to comfortably cover the rent, or their income is irregular (e.g. self-employed or on zero-hour contracts), landlords often ask for a guarantor.
• Poor or limited credit history: If the tenant has a history of missed payments, County Court Judgments (CCJs), or no credit history at all (common for young renters or international students), a guarantor provides reassurance.
• No UK rental history: First-time renters, especially students or people moving from abroad, might not have references from previous landlords.
• Receiving benefits: Some landlords are hesitant to rent to tenants on housing benefits, so they may require a guarantor to mitigate perceived financial risk.
• Joint tenancy risk: In shared housing, if one tenant defaults, the landlord wants someone to cover the full rent—not just one person’s share. A guarantor helps ensure that.

What the Guarantor Provides

• Financial security: The landlord knows that if the tenant can’t pay, someone else legally will.
• Legal recourse: It’s easier to pursue a UK-based guarantor in court than a tenant who might be hard to trace or financially insolvent.

Typical Scenarios

• A student renting privately for the first time
• A young adult with a new job and no credit history
• Someone with past financial issues trying to rebuild
• An international tenant without UK documentation or income proof

If you’re being asked to be a guarantor, it’s worth checking why the proposed tenant needs one before committing but basically, (and to finally answer your question) you’re a backup payer: If the tenant fails to pay rent or causes damage covered by the tenancy agreement, the landlord can legally demand payment from you.

What Happens If the Tenant Defaults

1. Landlord contacts the tenant first: They’ll usually try to recover the debt directly from the tenant.
2. Then they come to you: If the tenant doesn’t pay, the landlord can demand the full amount from you—sometimes without needing to chase the tenant further.
3. You could be taken to court: If you don’t pay when asked, the landlord can sue you directly. You’re liable under the terms of the guarantee agreement

Who Gets the CCJ if the Landlord wins and it isn't immediately paid? It depends who the Landlord decides to sue and that maybe driven by why they asked for a guarantor in the first place.

• If the landlord sues only the tenant: The CCJ is issued against the tenant. It will appear on their credit record and they are legally responsible for repayment.
• If the landlord sues only the guarantor: The CCJ is issued against the guarantor. Even though they didn’t default themselves, they’re liable under the guarantee agreement.
• If both are sued together: The court may issue separate CCJs against each party, or a joint CCJ depending on how the claim is structured. Both parties would then be liable.

Credit Impact

• A CCJ stays on your credit file for 6 years unless paid in full within 30 days.
• It can seriously affect your ability to get loans, mortgages, or even rent another property.

Sorry OP but I hope this helps!

I have never been one because I couldn't afford to pay it if they defaulted. You never know what is round the corner for people and even with good intentions they may be unable to pay. If you can comfortably afford it then maybe consider it but overall I think it is a bad idea and many people that sign don't think they will actually have to pay up.

Thank you so much for your really detailed reply - it’s very helpful, thank you

I was asked to be a guarantor once, by someone I didn't know very well. I don't know if she thought I was an easy target. But I said No to her. Needless to say, we are no longer friends.

The best way to ask a friend to be a guarantor is not to ask them at all. A now ex friend asked me to be her guarantor. Needless to say, I dumped her and we are no longer friends.

ForQuirkyTiger
Am curious why you have resurrected a thread by posting virtually the same as you did last September.........???

I also have a difficult sibling who has asked me to be guarantor before. I said no, there is a reason she needed a guarantor and that reason was a history of bad credit. The likelihood of me ending up responsible for her debt was high.

Please OP don’t take this on. If they end up homeless they will have to go into a hostel.