UK Guarantors

What is a UK Rental Guarantor?

A guarantor is someone who agrees to be responsible for your rent and your other legal obligations in a tenancy agreement. So, for example, if you damage the property or don’t pay your rent, your guarantor may have to pay anything you owe.

You can learn more about this from Advice Now.

Who can be a qualified UK Guarantor?

A resident and ordinary resident of the United Kingdom being Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and England. Please note that people living in Crown dependency and overseas territories do not qualify as being UK residents.

A resident and ordinary resident is someone who has resided within the UK for more than three years and is recognised as a resident and/or ordinary resident for tax purposes with the government department called HM Revenue and Customs.

The guarantor must have a fixed abode and proof of address (less than three-months old), as well as a photo ID.

The guarantor must also be in full-time employment or able to provide evidence that they can support the tenant should the tenant get into financial difficulty. Copies of the last 3-months payslips and/or a recent bank statement showing available funds must be provided.

Do I Need a Guarantor?

You only need a guarantor if you do not pay your full rent in advance. There are two payment options available at Project Student – full Payment or by instalment. If you are paying for the full year ahead, you do not need to provide us with a UK guarantor. If you choose the instalment option, we will ask you to provide us with a qualified UK guarantor, which is a common practise in the UK. This provides us with the security and knowledge that the rent will be paid in full even if you find yourself unable to pay for whatever reason.

Housing Hand Guarantor Scheme

Studying at university is an exciting time, however, the experience of finding and securing accommodation continues to be one of the biggest challenges and financial strains for students. If you do not know anyone who can be a qualified UK guarantor then Project Student recommends Housing Hand, a specialist guarantor service who can provide the safest and most secure payment option.

Housing Hand is an international guarantor service who provides this service to all students who cannot provide a qualified UK guarantor. Housing Hand also specialises in dealing with international students who cannot provide a guarantor in the UK. This means the rent payment instalment option can now be made available to international students.

For more information on eligibility and fees, please read the FAQ’s below or visit the Housing Hand website.

If you have any other queries, you can contact Housing Hand directly by email team@housinghand.co.uk, or telephone +44 (0) 207 205 2625.

Housing Hand FAQs

Can you explain more about the relationship between Housing Hand and Project Student?

Housing Hand works in partnership with Project Student as your UK rental guarantor. Project Student requires all students paying their rent in instalments to have a qualified UK guarantor.

How much does the service cost with Housing Hand?

Housing Hand charges a one-off fee of 80% of a month’s rent. Up to 45% of this is returned to you at the end of your tenancy (first year 15%, second year 30% and third year 45%), subject to the length of your tenancy. Terms and conditions apply.

Am I eligible to apply for The Service with Housing Hand?

Housing Hand require that you provide the following documentation to be eligible for The Guarantor Service:

Student Studying in the UK or Ireland
Have proof of identity: a passport or a driving licence
Have proof of study documents from UCAS or a letter from your University
Have a proof of address document dated within the last two- months
Have a Co-signer ready.

For International Students:

You will need a copy of your passport and a university acceptance letter (or student card). You will also need a co-signer who will sign the agreement with Housing Hand. This is normally a parent or guardian. The co-signer will need to provide a copy of their passport and proof of address.

For UK Students:

You will need a copy of your passport or driving license, and a university acceptance letter (or student card). You will also need a co-signer who will sign the agreement with Housing Hand. This is normally a parent or guardian. The co-signer will need to provide a copy of their ID and proof of address.

Tenancies with Multiple Tenants

If you happen to be renting a property with more than one tenant, each tenant will require a guarantor. That guarantor’s liability is only against the tenant they are guaranteeing and not the whole group of tenants (even though the tenancy agreement is joint and severally liable).

What does being a Guarantor mean?

By agreeing to be a Guarantor you are signing a legal document stating that you agree to pay the rent and guarantee the behaviour of the resident if they default. Please do not sign this agreement if you do not wish to take on this responsibility.

Need some help?

Our friendly team are here to help whether it be in person, over the phone, or via email.