Paying all rent up front - student let query - what happens re repossession etc

[studentparent2023]

Hi

Rather than signing a joint and several liability guarantee for our DS's student let, we have been offered the option of paying his rent for the year up front. We can afford to do this as we have been saving for his university costs but I have been trying unsuccessfully to find out what happens if there is a problem with the property after we have done that (EG, repossession, landlord sells the property etc?)

Can anyone help? We would be paying rent shortly but he would not actually move in until the start of the 2023/24 academic year.

Many thanks

Only the landlord can answer your question - at the very least I would suggest that you would want proof that the advance rent is being held in a manner that protects it should the landlord go bust. I guaranteed rent on a J&S basis for student DD1 & DD2 and expect to be asked to do so for DD3 in 2024. I am a solicitor and well aware of the risks involved as a guarantor- not entirely sure why handing over a year's rent upfront is less risky than sharing liability with the other tenants and their guarantors? It doesn't really incentivise the landlord to conduct themselves responsibly.