Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Expected to be guarantor for halls?

214 replies

ThisMustBeMyDream · 21/02/2022 19:19

My son has applied for halls today and paid a deposit. He then tells me he has put my name down as guarantor afterwards! I'm furious with him, but that can be dealt with later.
Right now I am very concerned as I can not be his guarantor. I am not anywhere near in a financial position to find £600 a month if he messes up. I have younger children to consider, so can not be guarantor. I asked the only person I could think of who it wouldn't affect (my dad) and he said an outright no.
So can my son not go to uni without a guarantor? I've been naive here, but I didn't expect this. He is almost 20, and earns good money whilst at college. He has more disposable income than me by miles. I was assuming that they would look at his income (which is currently 15k pa. working 24 hours pw. He will drop to 10k pa plus student loan of 9k so will have a higher over all income next year) but it seems they just do this automatically.
Can anyone advise?

OP posts:
Needmoresleep · 21/02/2022 19:22

They might accept rent in advance in place of a guarantor. (They will, almost certainly have alternative approaches for overseas students.) He should get saving.

No, you are not being unreasonable.

DisforDarkChocolate · 21/02/2022 19:23

There are companies that do this.

RancidOldHag · 21/02/2022 19:26

This is the first time I've heard of it for halls (though mine were in university owned ones, and perhaps it's different if they've been privatised)

But it's utterly routine when they move out into into lettings, so yes this is something you will need to grapple with. Have you spoken to DS about how you absolutely can't afford his rent on top of your bills and he has to pay up.

Gatekeeper · 21/02/2022 19:30

I didn't know you had to sign up as guarantor for hall? This being the case you would have had to have signed a contract surely? I did for my dd's student house in her 2nd year

Smartiepants79 · 21/02/2022 19:30

I would have thought this is fairly normal?? No idea though.
Most students in halls will be 18 year olds who have just left home for the first time. Most of them won’t have and ‘income’ as such I wouldn’t have thought??
Don’t be furious with him. You’re his mum, who else is going to put?? I doubt he’s even worked out what being a guarantor could mean. Explain to him and start working out what else you can put in place.

TheFallenMadonna · 21/02/2022 19:31

I didn't have to be a guarantor for halls but I am for accommodation in second and third years. The requirement for my dins accommodation is that the guarantor earn over £15k and be living in the UK. Pretty sure that a parent with an income of 15k would struggle to pay for his (admittedly London) accommodation as well as their own, but that's not the plan of course.

WTFUterus · 21/02/2022 19:33

As mentioned above there are companies for this but they do occur a charge. Housing Hand for example.
Its very common for students to require a Guarantor in halls as well as private renting, even if they have have job, as its equally common for students to struggle to maintain a job whilst studying.
Overseas students without an UK Gaurantor usually pay the entire rent up front.

Wartywart · 21/02/2022 19:35

I must admit I felt dismayed when you said you were furious with him. Who else could he put? Are you really going to lose him his chance of getting a university degree by not being prepared to back him? You will be badly letting him down.

Talk to him and explain that you cannot afford for him not to pay his rent. Most guarantors never have to step in and I'm sure you won't.

Original poster
ThisMustBeMyDream · 21/02/2022 19:39

Of course I am furious - he should have asked, not just put me down. You can't do that. I'd never have dared to do such a thing to my parents.
I would be badly letting down my other 2 children if I agreed to be his guarantor and then he didn't pay so they came after me. I have 3 children, not one. I have to do what is best for all of them.

OP posts:
Heytheredemons · 21/02/2022 19:43

He can put you down as a guarantor, but unless you sigh to say you accept the implications that come with it, you are not liable if he defaults.

Have you signed any paperwork to say you accept liability for the rent as a guarantor?

user1487194234 · 21/02/2022 19:44

Surely you have to do everything you can to support him at Uni

catinboots123 · 21/02/2022 19:47

Why would you be furious? Bizarre reaction

gogohm · 21/02/2022 19:47

Unfortunately they need a guarantor and will do for years to come, even once you earn decent money some landlords require a guarantor - I'm guarantor for my ex because he had to have one, he earns 6 figures!

UnshakenNeedsStirring · 21/02/2022 19:53

Who else is going to support him? You are his mother. What a bizarre rreaction from you.

Footballschmootball · 21/02/2022 19:56

My parents refused to be a guarantor for my brother. I’m not sure how but there was a way round it ( sorry - not too helpful- but the point I’m making is there was another way and he did still live there).

TillyTopper · 21/02/2022 19:58

But if he pays up front (I assume he has savings from working) there should be no issue?

Chloemol · 21/02/2022 19:58

If you don’t act as guarantor, and no other family member will what do you expect him to do?

Sleep on the streets?

Once you have calmed down then speak to him, could he give you £600 to hold for him just in case if he is working at the moment? Or even a bit more?

Have you actually spoken to the uni to see what other options are available

TantrumsAndBalloons · 21/02/2022 19:58

Referencing companies do not take student finance into account as it’s a loan

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 21/02/2022 20:01

Why are you so angry?

This is what happens with students. He would have just put your name down without thinking about it as your his mum.

It’s not his fault that this is how the system is. He can put another adult down. Dh was once a guarantor for dss gf.

brieandbacon · 21/02/2022 20:04

You pay for halls in advance each time the loan comes in at the beginning of each term. So he will have the money. The loan doesn't come in all at once for the full year. I've been guarantor for both my kids all the way through their 3 years. They are my kids. That's what I'm here for. And I'm not on a high income. And, I trust them. We have a mutual respect.

PAFMO · 21/02/2022 20:05

@ThisMustBeMyDream

Of course I am furious - he should have asked, not just put me down. You can't do that. I'd never have dared to do such a thing to my parents. I would be badly letting down my other 2 children if I agreed to be his guarantor and then he didn't pay so they came after me. I have 3 children, not one. I have to do what is best for all of them.
Utterly bizarre reaction to one's own child. You sound very resentful of him and very much like you prefer the other 2. Weird.
Wartywart · 21/02/2022 20:06

Okay, so look at it this way. Child 1 doesn't go to uni because he has two younger siblings and therefore you cannot be his guarantor. What about child 2 and child 3? Presumably child 3 can go because child 1 and child 2 are older and off your hands. Is that fair?

It will be hard to keep a decent relationship with child 1 if you treat his siblings differently.

Alonelonelylonersbadidea · 21/02/2022 20:08

Wow. Of course he should've asked but being furious about it makes you look lousy OP. I say that as a woman with 5 kids who I've mainly financed alone.

Howshouldibehave · 21/02/2022 20:09

Which university is this? I never had to agree to this for my DC in halls.

middleeasternpromise · 21/02/2022 20:09

I do understand your initial reaction OP, esp if you are the sole provider for other dependents. It is usual for students to need a guarantor, I was a bit aghast at that idea too. But as others have said this is a massive deal for your son to go to University and obtain further education - is he likely to default on the rent or have you raised him to be responsible? As others have said you are not a guarantor unless you sign something - him giving your details does not in any way obligate you but I really hope you find a way to support him with this opportunity,