What Is a Guarantor?
4 min read · Updated 2026-08-01
When a landlord asks for a guarantor, what it obligates, and the alternatives.
Definition
A guarantor signs a separate agreement promising to pay if the tenant does not. They do not live in the unit and have no right to occupy it, but they carry financial liability for the lease.
When landlords require one
Common triggers are thin or no credit history, income below the landlord's threshold, self-employment without long records, or being a full-time student. Guarantors are typically held to a higher income standard than tenants — often 80 to 100 times the monthly rent in annual income.
Alternatives
Third-party guarantor services will act as guarantor for a fee, usually a percentage of annual rent. Other options include prepaying several months, offering a larger deposit where permitted, or providing bank statements showing reserves.
This guide is general information, not financial, tax, or legal advice. Figures are estimates and vary by lender, insurer, and location.
Keep reading
- What Is a Co-Signer?
How a co-signer differs from a guarantor, and what each party takes on.
- How Much Rent Can I Afford?
The 30% rule, what landlords actually screen for, and how to set a rent budget that survives the rest of your life.