Guarantor Reference

Guarantor Referencing Guide

Sometimes, a landlord may ask an applicant to nominate a UK-based guarantor before officially approving a tenancy. This is a very common part of the modern renting process in the UK and helps ensure everything runs smoothly from day one.

Who may need a guarantor:

• You are a student or a recent graduate.
• Your current income falls just below our standard affordability threshold or are in probation
• You have recently moved to the UK and cannot provide a continuous 3-year UK address history.
• You are self-employed or do not have a fixed monthly contract salary.

Option 1: Using a Personal Guarantor (Family or Friend)

A personal guarantor is usually a relative or close friend who agrees to co-sign your tenancy agreement. They promise to cover the rent or any property damage if you ever run into unexpected financial hardship.

Because they are taking on legal financial liability, a personal guarantor must meet these three basic requirements:

• ✅ Be a UK permanent resident (with a continuous UK address history).
• ✅ Be a UK homeowner (they must own property in the UK).
• ✅ Earn at least 3 times the rent after tax (take-home pay).

⚠️ Important: A landlord will unfortunately have to reject a personal guarantor if they live or work abroad, or if they do not own property within the UK.

Personal Guarantor Application Requirements

When you nominate a personal guarantor, they will be sent a secure online application to complete. To pass UK background checks and comply with modern Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations, they will need to upload:

1. Proof of Identity: A valid Passport or photo-card Driving License.
2. Proof of Address: A utility bill or bank statement addressed to them, dated within the last 3 months.
3. Proof of Income: Either an employment reference letter confirming their salary OR an accountant's reference combined with their last 6 months of payslips/bank statements (sensitive personal details like National Insurance numbers can be redacted).

Income Example:

A guarantor's monthly take-home pay must be at least 3 times the monthly rent.

• Example: If the rent is £500 per month, your guarantor must comfortably show a take-home pay of at least £1,500 per month (which is roughly £18,000 per year after tax).

Option 2: Using a Professional Guarantor Service

What if you don't know anyone who owns a home in the UK?

Don't worry! This is incredibly common for international students, expats, and corporate arrivals. Because UK housing laws strictly ban landlords from accepting large chunks of upfront rent (like 6 or 12 months in advance) as a workaround, professional guarantor services are now the top solution.

You can pay a specialised, fully accredited company to step in and act as your legal UK guarantor.

How it works:

1. Apply Online: You sign up with an approved provider (such as RentGuarantor, Housing Hand, or Goodlord Guarantor Services).
2. Provide Your Documents: They will check your university enrollment or employment contract. They do not require them to be based in the UK.
3. Approval: Once approved, they issue a legal guarantee directly to Bee City Living. We can then instantly progress your application and hand over your keys!

Note: These companies charge a small fee for their service (usually a percentage of your monthly rent or a one-off annual payment). Please check their individual websites for exact pricing and reviews on platforms like Trustpilot.

Need help or feeling unsure?

Please do not nominate a personal guarantor if you know they do not meet all three base requirements, as this can delay your application deadline.

If you aren't sure whether your proposed guarantor qualifies, or if you want advice on which professional guarantor service to use, please chat with us before submitting your form! One of our friendly advisors will happily guide you through the best options for your situation.

Contact Us

• 📧 Email: hello@beecityliving.co.uk
• 📞 Phone: 0161 211 3908

Guarantor Referencing Guide