Being a guarantor

A tenant can ask you to be a guarantor for their tenancy.

Guarantor responsibilities

A guarantor is legally responsible for meeting the terms of a tenancy agreement if the tenant does not.

This includes paying for:

• unpaid bills
• unpaid rent, called rent arrears
• costs to repair damage caused by the tenant

Your responsibility can continue after the tenancy ends if there are still costs the landlord needs to cover. For example, if the deposit does not cover the tenant's rent arrears, the landlord can ask you to pay the rest.

If you do not pay what you owe as a guarantor, the landlord can take legal action against you to recover the costs.

Why a landlord asks for a guarantor

Not all tenants need a guarantor.

A private landlord can ask for one if they're concerned about the tenant's finances. For example, if the tenant:

• does not have a job
• has a poor credit record
• does not have a reference

Signing the tenancy agreement

For most new tenancies, landlords must give tenants a private residential tenancy agreement.

The landlord must get you to sign the guarantor section of the tenancy agreement.

Rules for joint tenancies

If there is more than one tenant, a landlord can ask them to sign the same tenancy agreement. This makes them joint tenants.

If you’re the only guarantor signing a joint tenant agreement, you’re legally responsible for all tenants listed on the agreement.

Stopping being a guarantor

A tenancy agreement is a legal contract. If you want to stop being a guarantor, you may need legal advice from a solicitor.