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Higher education

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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:
Original poster
ThisMustBeMyDream · 21/02/2022 21:29

Who said anything about a yelling match @Nelliephant1. That was quite an assumption to make! If you will note in my OP I said I was furious, but that was for later. Right now my priority is ensuring he can go to uni, and I am not putting anything at risk to do so.
I haven't even mentioned to him that I'm furious ffs! He isn't home, he just messaged the info through after booking in a panic he said. He said he was told all the accommodation was for booking after 1st March, but that it was wrong. He needed to book today as it was all being booked up. He then sent the details over and said I'd get an email about being guarantor - which I have. All I have said to him via message is I would speak to his grandad to see if he could help. He doesn't know anything else!

Thanks for understanding my predicament @WombatChocolate and others who took the time to see it from a different perspective other than "he's your kid, you sort it" which is exactly what my (well off) father said.

OP posts:
Original poster
ThisMustBeMyDream · 21/02/2022 21:30

He's paying for it the same way as most I assume? Student loan. He is saving up, but he won't have thousands up front.

OP posts:
CourtRand · 21/02/2022 21:32

Yes parents almost always are. I could not have rented in halls or any further student rentals for 4 years without my mum or dad.

CourtRand · 21/02/2022 21:33

You could make him pay you the full total for rent as soon as he gets his loan. Every time and then you pay.

Original poster
ThisMustBeMyDream · 21/02/2022 21:34

And if he drops out? What then?

OP posts:
Original poster
ThisMustBeMyDream · 21/02/2022 21:35

I've sent an email to the student welfare. I would usually leave it to him, but he is quite laissez-faire when it comes to such things. As it affects me, I will have to sort it.

OP posts:
Motnight · 21/02/2022 21:37

CourtRand's idea is a good one, Op.

Heartofglass12345 · 21/02/2022 21:40

Could you make sure he sets up a direct debit and never cancels it? That's what I did in uni, made sure my rent was always paid every month then. Be very clear with him that if he misses even one month then he will not be able to stay in uni.
He needs to be an adult about it and ensure that he has enough money for rent every month.
Ignore me if I've got it completely wrong and he has to pay it another way mind, it's been a while since I went to uni Grin

BlackishTulips · 21/02/2022 21:42

Totally agree with @WombatChocolate

pumpkinpie01 · 21/02/2022 21:43

As I remember the loan will come into their account for that term and then the rent for that terms accommodation will be due about 1-2 weeks later . So he would have to be pretty negligent to not pay it . Surely he knows your financial situation so won't let you down ? I have been the guarantor for both of mine and they know not to let me down and that I really can't afford to pay their rent and a mortgage. I have had to trust them

TolkiensFallow · 21/02/2022 21:44

Why don’t you trust him to pay his rent? If you trust him, it’s a non issue as you won’t have to pay.

Haveyoubrushedyourteeth · 21/02/2022 21:51

I've not read the full thread, but it's fairly normal OP and as others have said he really needs you to do it. That said I do think you need to talk to him about how worried you are.
The way Halls tends to work is that the rent comes out of their loan almost as soon as they get each installment so it's unlikely he'll get into a mess this year. As for next you could ask him to transfer you his rent x4 out of his loan each time he gets it and then transfer it back each month for him to pay, or pay directly yourself?

crochetcrazy1978 · 21/02/2022 21:56

My daughter is just looking at halls and it mentioned a guarantor and I was surprised too and feel a bit unsure about it. Like you say it's the concern if they drop out because then there's no student finance to cover the rent and it would fall on me. No way I could afford to cover it and I'm not sure what to do really. It has nothing to do with not supporting her. She also has asc so I'm
concerned in case she doesn't cope and decides she can't continue. She also didn't really think about it and just assumed it was a bit like your mum signing a permission slip. Don't think she understood what it meant. Might be the same for your son

bevelino · 21/02/2022 21:56

OP, your ds should have let you know before he named you as a guarantor but what would have been the alternative. Students are unable to put themselves down as guarantor for their own rent.

If your ds has the means to pay you will not be asked to cover his rent.

Young people needing a guarantor doesn’t stop at university and when they are in their first job after university they are often asked to name a guarantor for rent when they leave home.

bellac11 · 21/02/2022 21:57

I disagree with many posters here. This happened to my partner who wasnt able to act as guarantor for his son. Thank goodness he didnt, his attendance really dropped in the first term, didnt attend again properly second term and dropped out at the end of that. This meant that his instalments of student loan didnt come through, he was in terrible debt by then, not paying the rent and ended up owing the landlord money and was evicted.
He has had to learn lessons about how to manage money and wont make that mistake again.

I can identify with a previous post about her friend whose family didnt have the money to support her through college or uni and didnt learn to drive until very late, that was me too. Not everyone can just sign up to the risk of getting debt recovery letters and possible court action affecting your credit score for years to come. I dont understand how people are so dismissive of this for the OP

BluebellsGreenbells · 21/02/2022 21:59

As a PP said there are companies that will be a guarantor - it’s about £300 and covers them/you if they drop out for example.

I’ll see if I can find a link.

bigdecisionstomake · 21/02/2022 22:01

Pretty standard these days for student accommodation to need a guarantor. Sometimes Uni owned accommodation won't ask for one but privately owned halls and private rented sector accommodation for 2nd and 3rd years almost always will.

If you haven't signed anything yet you can relax - a guarantor document is only legally binding if you have signed it yourself, you've seen a copy of the tenancy agreement and your signature has been witnessed. If none of that has happened at this point all he's done is put your name down on his form as someone the accommodation provider can contact to get the guarantor paperwork signed and you have no legal liability at all at this point or obligation to take this responsibility on.

If you choose not to sign he will need to find an alternative. As PPs have said there are companies that offer a guarantor service for students who can't get one. The most well known of these is Housing Hand but I believe there are others. Alternatively, could he defer a year and work as many hours as possible this year and save up enough to pay a year's rent up front next year? Then if he was entitled to his loan in his first year he could save that for the following year's rent and so on.

It might also be worth a call to the accommodation provider to see if there is any leeway, some will accept a lower proportion of the rent paid in advance if you explain your circumstances.

I appreciate that posters are implying you don't trust him not to pay but it isn't really as simple as this. I work in student accommodation and unfortunately students do change their minds, drop out, switch courses and multiple other random things that can mean they don't then qualify for full loan and are unable to pay so unless you are comfortable you can afford to take on his rent payments if necessary then you really shouldn't sign as his guarantor.

Get him to explore and research the other options - how much work he is prepared to put into this will be a good indicator of how committed he is to going to Uni.

BluebellsGreenbells · 21/02/2022 22:02

housinghand.co.uk/university-guarantor-service/

Have a look at the university he’s applied for

Surely he needs exam grades unless he has an unconditional offer?

SeasonFinale · 21/02/2022 22:08

in his second and third years it gets worse because generally he is jointly liable for his housemates rent too and most guarantors are too without even realising

missminimum · 21/02/2022 22:13

He can put your name forward, but you have to sign a form before you are a guarantor, so you have not been commited to something. This is standard for students and any young person entering into a rental agreement. Parents are usually the guarantor so it is not surprising he thought you would fulfil this role, but he should have discussed this with you. I am not sure why you are furious with him though, frustrated by the way the university set up/student loans systems banks on parents suppporting their student children, regardless of their personal situation, I can understand.

bellac11 · 21/02/2022 22:14

@SeasonFinale

in his second and third years it gets worse because generally he is jointly liable for his housemates rent too and most guarantors are too without even realising
This is a good point and why other posters mentioning about being guarantors for private rentals (once her son starts work) is something to be very wary of. If he signs up for a house share or flat share as a joint tenant, he can be liable for the full rent for the length of the contract if they up and leave and he cant pay, or he ups and leaves

I thought that student accomodation was also for the full academic year, he would be liable for the full year whether or not he stays, so agreeing to direct debits or paying in advance monthly is irrelevant

Once he starts work he is better off renting single rooms in house shares, that way you dont need a guarantor or very much rent up front.

Bouledeneige · 21/02/2022 22:15

I have been guarantor for my DD for private renting but not halls. In the end do you trust your Don to make his payments?

YeOldeTrout · 21/02/2022 22:17

signing up for halls in February?

Hotelhelp · 21/02/2022 22:18

Sad state of affairs when the one person who should support him can't do this for him.

I understand it's a huge risk but surely you trust him?

I'm flabbergasted by your reaction tbh. Poor boy.

Thoosa · 21/02/2022 22:24

@MummytoCSJH

I went to visit Liverpool uni and signed up to visit halls, I couldn’t get a flat confirmed without a guarantor. I think it is normal. I couldn’t find anyone as they wanted a homeowner.
What did you do to get around it @MummytoCSJH