Becoming a tenant guarantor is often seen as a kind gesture, usually taken on by friends or family members who want to help someone secure a home. While it can be a supportive and generous role, it’s important to fully understand what the responsibility involves before agreeing to it.
Instead of relying on a friend or family member to act as guarantor, you pay RentGuarantor to act as your professional guarantor. We assess your application, handle communication with your landlord, and issue the guarantee once everything is approved.
Here’s how it works:
- Apply: Fill in our simple online application form
- Assessment: Receive an instant quote. A member of our team will guide you through next steps
- Decision: If pre-approved, you’ll provide property details and a backup contact
- Landlord Check: We contact your Landlord/Agent for approval
- Payment: After all documents are signed, you’ll receive a secure payment link
- Guarantee Issued: We’ll officially act as your guarantor
- Renewals: You’ll need to renew each year if you still require a guarantor
We can approve applications very quickly, but it depends on how fast we receive the necessary documentation.
Here’s the typical timeline:
- Submit all documents before 3pm (Mon–Fri) and expect pre-approval by 5pm on the same day.
- After pre-approval, send us your new property details.
- We contact your landlord or estate agent for confirmation.
- Once confirmed, we issue your payment link and contract.
In some cases, we’ve completed the process in 72 hours. However, referencing delays from the agent or landlord may extend the timeline.
We recommend allowing 7–10 working days for the full process from application to final approval.
Your Rent Guarantee covers the entire tenancy term, up to a maximum of 36 months.
- If your tenancy renews, you must apply for a new agreement.
- A no-claims discount will apply at renewal.
- Each renewal requires payment of an annual fee.
Possibly. You’ll need to show proof of income to qualify — this can come from:
- A new employment contract once signed.
- A benefits award letter, confirming payments and dates.
If neither is available at the time of applying, you may need to wait until documents are ready before submitting your application.
Even if a third party pays your deposit — such as a parent or a Rent Deposit Scheme — your landlord is still legally required to register it.
Providing a guarantor is standard practice in the UK rental market. It gives landlords peace of mind that rent will be paid on time and in full. RentGuarantor acts as your guarantor, specifically for rent payments, not property damage. We cover the tenancy term as stated in your contract, for up to three years (in case of tenancy renewals).
Guarantee limits include:
- Up to £120,000 for unpaid rent.
- Up to £10,000 for legal costs related to eviction due to rent arrears.
We also cover reasonable legal expenses incurred during the tenancy for eviction proceedings in accordance with our Landlord Terms & Conditions and the full agreement.
A holding deposit (money paid to reserve a property before signing) doesn’t need to be protected. However, once a tenancy agreement is signed, it becomes a standard deposit and must be registered in a TDP scheme.
If you rent under an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST), your landlord must protect your deposit within 30 days in a government-backed scheme.
Approved schemes in England and Wales:
- MyDeposits
- Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS)
- Deposit Protection Service
Separate schemes apply for Scotland and Northern Ireland.
You’ll get your deposit back if:
- You’ve met the tenancy agreement terms.
- You haven’t damaged the property.
- You’ve paid rent and bills in full.
Your landlord or agent must:
- Register your deposit in a scheme within 30 days of receiving it.
- Return your deposit within 10 days of both parties agreeing on the amount.
If a dispute arises, your deposit stays protected in the scheme until resolved.
Click to find out how tenants work with RentGuarantor.
Anyone looking to rent a property in England, Scotland, or Wales can apply. We assess every application individually.
Tenant - Problem with the website or my account
You can manage your entire application from your dashboard. This includes:
- Editing submitted information
- Uploading documents
- Tracking application progress
- Responding to further information requests
Your dashboard becomes active immediately after you create and submit your application.
Resetting your password is simple:
- Visit the Forgotten Password page.
- Enter the email address linked to your account.
- You’ll receive a password reset email.
Once you receive it:
- Click the link or manually copy/paste the verification code.
- Enter your email and verification code on the reset form.
- Set your new password.
- You’ll then be redirected to the login page to access your account.
If you've forgotten your username, visit the username reminder page, enter your registered email address, and we'll send you your username details.
Tenant - Problem with my landlord or tenancy
No, interest is not charged under normal circumstances.
However, if a tenant defaults on a repayment arrangement and the matter proceeds to court, RentGuarantor may charge interest on the outstanding balance at 3% above the UK base rate, if approved by a court.
If your landlord has taken a rental deposit, it must be protected by a government-approved Tenancy Deposit Protection (TDP) scheme. These schemes ensure fair handling of disputes.
What you should know:
- The landlord must give you paperwork showing which scheme your deposit is protected with.
- If you disagree with deductions, you should raise the issue directly with the TDP scheme referenced in that paperwork.
- If your landlord failed to register your deposit correctly, you could be entitled to up to 3 months’ rent in compensation.
Act fast — your first step should be to contact your landlord immediately.
- Apologise and provide a valid reason for the missed payment.
- If possible, offer to make full or part payment.
- If you’re unable to pay, communicate clearly with your landlord and explain your situation.
Do not ignore the issue. Lack of communication may lead to:
- Legal proceedings.
- Termination of your lease.
- Eviction.
- A negative reference which could impact future rental opportunities.
We aim to work cooperatively to reach a resolution.
If no repayment arrangement is agreed:
- We may begin debt recovery or court action.
- You could also be liable for eviction costs if the process is initiated.
If a claim is made due to your rent arrears:
- RentGuarantor will pay your landlord on your behalf.
- You remain legally liable for repaying that amount to RentGuarantor.
- You must agree a repayment plan with us.
- We do not normally charge interest or fees unless required legally.
Tenant- The Application process
Yes. When you apply, you’ll be referenced by Keysafe, an independent referencing agency.
This process checks specific criteria and may lead to us requesting additional documents depending on your circumstances.
We consider tenants with poor credit, CCJs, or IVAs. Every application is assessed individually on a case-by-case basis.
We accept the following formats for submitting your Universal Credit (UC) and bank statements:
Universal Credit statements:
- Screenshots: Use “full page” or “extended” screenshot tools to capture the entire UC statement in one image.
- PDF: While viewing your statement, press Ctrl+P, select “Save as PDF” as your printer, and save the file.
- Then upload the document as part of your application.
Bank statements:
- Use your online banking portal to download full PDF statements.
- Avoid uploading cropped or mobile-only screenshots unless explicitly requested.
Tip: Make sure your documents show your name, dates and transaction details clearly.
You can download a comprehensive credit report for free via MoneySavingExpert's Credit Club. There are no trial sign-ups or card details required — just register to access your full report.
Before you pay your guarantor fee, we contact your prospective landlord or agent to confirm acceptance. If they do not approve, you won’t pay the fee.
If your accommodation falls through after approval, we can update your application with new property details. If the new rental amount is higher, we may need to reassess your application.
If you’ve already paid the fee and the tenancy hasn’t started yet:
- We’ll contact the landlord or agent for confirmation
- We can transfer your guarantor application to the new property
- An administration fee may apply
Once the tenancy begins, the guarantor cannot be transferred to another property.
Yes — but you’ll still need a valid photo ID.
If you don’t have a passport or driving licence you can apply for a CitizenCard, a government-recognised form of UK photo ID.
Please note: applications cannot be accepted without valid photo identification.
No problem — you can still start your application and:
- Click “Save for later”.
- Return to your account at any time to upload the remaining documents before submitting.
Once you’ve received pre-approval from RentGuarantor, we’ll need you to provide your new property details so we can proceed.
Please log in and update your application with:
- Full rental property address and postcode.
- Your portion of the monthly rent.
- Landlord or letting agent’s name and contact person.
- Phone number and email address for the landlord or agent.
Once we receive these details:
- We’ll send our guarantor agreement to the landlord or agent to sign.
- As soon as they sign, we’ll send you your own copy to sign via Xodo.
Once your landlord or estate agent confirms they’ll accept RentGuarantor:
- We’ll send you a digital contract via Xodo.
- You can review and sign online using your phone, tablet, or computer — no printing or scanning required.
If you have one or more CCJs, we’ll need to know:
- How many CCJs have you had?
- What were they for?
- How much was each one?
- Are they still active or have they been satisfied?
We accept any ONE of the following as supporting documents:
- The Demand Letter
- A Settlement Letter
- Confirmation of a Payment Plan
- The County Court Judgement Letter
- A Narrative Document from the court (check your credit report to see which court issued the CCJ)
Please note: Additional information may be requested as part of your application process.
If you have an IVA, we will require:
- The IVA Agreement document (this outlines the total amount, creditors involved, monthly payments, and duration).
- Your last 3 months of bank statements, showing consistent IVA payments.
We do accept tenants who have been declared bankrupt.
You will need to provide:
- A Certificate or Letter of Discharge
Each case is individually assessed based on your current financial stability.
We accept the following evidence based on the type of benefits you receive:
Universal Credit (UC)
- Your last 3 full UC statements showing benefit calculations.
- Accepted formats:
- PDF: Use the “Print Statement” function and save as PDF.
- Screenshot: Full-page or scrolling screenshot showing the complete statement.
If you haven’t received UC for 3 months:
- Submit your Award Letter confirming your entitlement and start date.
- Or a screenshot of the summary screen in your UC account showing pending payments.
Other benefits (ESA, Child Tax Credits, Working Tax Credits)
- Your last 3 months of bank statements showing benefit payments.
Please note: we do not accept mobile banking screenshots unless requested.
You must provide official documentation to confirm your student status.
For new students:
- University letter or email confirming you’ve accepted a place (this must include university logo, be signed, and dated within the last 3 months).
- UCAS confirmation of an unconditional offer.
For current students:
- Letter or email from Student Services confirming current enrolment (dated within the last 3 months).
- Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) letter.
Please note: we cannot accept Student ID cards or NUS cards as proof of study.
You’ll be asked to connect via Open Banking during your Keysafe credit check. This may automatically provide your last 3 months of income.
If Open Banking isn't used or doesn’t provide complete data, we’ll require the following manually:
Employed
- Paid monthly: Your last 3 payslips, clearly showing your name and payment amount.
- Paid weekly: All payslips from the last 3 months.
Please note: do not accept bonuses, overtime, or cash-in-hand income when assessing affordability.
Self-employed
- Bank statements for the last 3 months, showing consistent income.
- OR: Last 3 payslips (if applicable).
- AND: Most recent tax return.
- We may request recent invoices and a brief description of your work.
Please note: we cannot act as your guarantor based solely on less than 3 months of self-employment income.
In receipt of benefits or child maintenance
- Universal Credit: Last 3 months of UC statements or award letter showing your entitlement and amounts.
- Other benefits: Last 3 full bank statements showing the benefit payments.
- Child maintenance: Only legally documented payments will be accepted (we cannot accept informal/private arrangements).
Please note: we do not accept screenshots of online banking apps as proof of bank statements.
If you are being supported by a Local Authority, you will be prompted to:
- Select “Yes” when asked, “Are you being assisted by a Local Authority?”
- Choose the name of the Local Authority from the drop-down list to proceed.
We assess your affordability based on how you plan to fund your tenancy.
If funded by scholarships or grants:
- Student Finance letter confirming entitlement for the current academic year.
- Grant or scholarship award letter, dated within the last 3 months.
If funded by parents or guardians:
Employed parents:
- Last 3 months’ payslips, clearly showing name and payment amount.
- If payslips are not available (e.g. parent is abroad), submit the last 3 months of full bank statements with income clearly highlighted.
Self-employed parents:
- Last 3 months’ bank statements showing consistent income.
- We may also request:
- Recent invoices
- Most recent tax return
We do not accept:
- Mobile banking screenshots
- Bonus, overtime, or informal income arrangements
When applying to RentGuarantor, providing accurate property details is essential. Here’s how the process works, depending on whether you’ve already secured a property or are still searching.
Have you already found a property?
If you’ve already identified a property for which you require a guarantor:
- Select “Yes” when prompted.
- You will then be asked to input the property details outlined below.
Please have the following ready:
- New Property Address
- County
- Postcode
- Monthly Rent (PCM)
- Landlord or Agent Contact Name
- Letting Agent Company Name
- Landlord or Agent Telephone Number
- Landlord or Agent Email Address
- Confirm Landlord or Agent Email (must match the one entered above to prevent errors)
Still searching for a property?
You’ll only be asked to enter your desired rental budget. Based on that, we’ll provide you with a custom quote, visible on your dashboard once your application is submitted.
To apply, you’ll need valid, in-date photo identification. We accept:
- Passport
- UK or foreign driver’s licence
- CitizenCard
- Foreign national ID card
- Government or council-issued ID (must show name, DOB, and photo)
If you’ve recently changed your name, we’ll need documentation to support this (e.g. deed poll, marriage certificate).
Please note: Without valid photo ID, we cannot proceed with your application.
After reviewing your submitted application, we may need additional information or clarification to complete your assessment.
If this is the case:
- You’ll receive an email notification asking you to log into your account.
- When you log in, your dashboard will display a ‘Your action is required’ status, clearly showing which section requires attention.
Clicking the ‘More Info’ button will trigger a pop-up window where you can enter the requested details or upload the necessary documents.
Tenants - more about the application process
Once the tenant completes their application and pays the required fee, we typically issue agreements within 1–2 working days, subject to all necessary information being received.
You’ll receive a digital agreement via Xodo Sign, which can be reviewed and signed securely online. A completed copy is automatically emailed to you once all parties have signed.
We may ask landlords to supply:
- A copy of the tenancy agreement.
- Rent amount and payment schedule.
- Deposit details (or confirmation of a deposit alternative).
- Your contact and property details.
These documents ensure clarity and help us assess and process the guarantor arrangement.
Tenant - how to get in touch with RentGuarantor
We're here to help.
- Email us at info@rentguarantor.com
- Call us on 0207 193 4418
Our office hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.
Existing customers:
Email: customercare@rentguarantor.com
Please include your agreement reference number.
General enquiries (no active agreement yet):
Email: info@rentguarantor.com
