Guides › Rent and Deposits › Rent Guarantors: What They Are and What If You Have None
Rent Guarantors: What They Are and What If You Have None
A guarantor agrees to pay your rent if you do not, and may have to pay for damage. Landlords and agents cannot charge extra fees for needing one. If you do not have a guarantor, rent guarantee schemes run by councils or charities may help, or you can use a commercial guarantor company that charges a fee. They can suggest a company but cannot require you to use it.
At A Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
About Guarantors
What They Agree
A guarantor agrees to pay your rent if you do not, and might also pay for damage you cause. Landlords usually check their income and credit history. The landlord should contact you first, but if neither pays they could go to court for a county court judgment. Each joint tenant is responsible for the total rent, so a guarantor may be asked to pay if another joint tenant defaults unless the agreement says otherwise. source
Fees
Landlords or agents cannot charge extra fees for needing a guarantor, such as for checks or the agreement itself. source
Ending Liability
A guarantor may not be liable if the tenant dies: for agreements signed from 1 May 2026 this applies to private assured tenancies. A new tenancy agreement or rent increase may end liability unless the guarantor agrees to the change. source
If You Do Not Have One
Options
Rent guarantee schemes run by councils or charities may provide rent in advance and a deposit, or act as guarantor up to a set amount. You may have to repay money paid for you. Commercial rent guarantor companies charge a fee, so check fees and reviews. Students can ask their university about hardship funds or landlords who do not need guarantors. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- 1 May 2026Tenant-death protections startAgreements signed from this date
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Ask the landlord or agent exactly what the guarantor agreement covers.
Step 2 of 5
Guarantors should get both the tenancy agreement and the guarantor agreement and read them.
Step 3 of 5
Ask your council about a rent guarantee scheme.
Step 4 of 5
Compare fees if using a guarantor company.
Step 5 of 5
Never pay an extra fee just for needing a guarantor.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
Shelter England
Free advice on deposit claims and eviction notices.
Citizens Advice
Free advice on any renting problem.
Your Local Council
Housing or environmental health team. It can act on landlord breaches.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
A guarantor can dispute an agreement if the terms changed, it was not properly explained, or they were pressured to sign.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have different rules for renting.
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If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 14 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/private_renting/guarantors_for_private_renters Checked 14 October 2026
- england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/tenancy_deposits/check_your_tenancy_deposit_is_protected/deposit_not_protected Checked 12 October 2026
- citizensadvice.org.uk Checked 8 October 2026