Yes, having a rent guarantor can help you secure a property faster, especially in competitive rental markets where landlords often move quickly toward applicants who feel lower risk.
The truth is, finding a property is usually not the hard part.
Open any rental platform in London, Birmingham, Leeds or Manchester and you’ll find thousands of listings. The real challenge is getting approved before someone else does.
In these kinds of fast-moving rental markets, properties can easily get multiple applications within days, sometimes even hours. Landlords and letting agents often make decisions quickly, which means anything that slows your application down can cost you the property.
One of the biggest delays? Not having a guarantor.
For many tenants, especially international students, expats, freelancers and people new to the UK, the issue is not being able to afford the rent. It’s proving that you are a low-risk tenant in a way landlords are comfortable with.
If you are looking to rent in the UK but don’t have a guarantor, Rentimigo can help. As a professional rent guarantor service, we help hundreds of people across the UK secure their dream rentals.
Sign up today and we’ll act as your guarantor for you.
What does a rent guarantor actually do?
A rent guarantor is someone who agrees to cover rent payments if you are unable to pay them.
From a landlord’s perspective, this provides a lot of reassurance, especially in light of new rental laws that make it harder to evict tenants.
If their tenant has a guarantor, they know that if something unexpected happens, there is someone able to cover the financial cost of the tenancy. For them, it makes it much less likely that they will be out of pocket.
This is why guarantors are normally requested when tenants:
- Are students
- Are new to renting
- Have limited UK credit history
- Are self-employed
- Have recently moved to the UK
- Have non-traditional income
Many times, these tenants may not have a UK credit history, making it harder to assess how responsible they would be as renters.
A guarantor reduces that risk, making the tenant far more appealing.
And lower risk often means tenants are likely to be approved quicker.
Who can be a guarantor in the UK?
Landlords usually have fairly strict rules around who qualifies as a guarantor. It can change from landlord to landlord but normally, a guarantor must:
- Be based in the UK
- Have a stable income
- Pass credit checks
- Show financial reliability
- Sometimes own UK property
- Earn enough to cover the rent if required
This is where things become difficult for many renters, especially those that have recently moved to the UK. In theory, a parent, sibling or close friend can act as a guarantor.
But in practice, many tenants just don’t know someone who fits the mould. And when they can afford the rent themselves but keep being turned away because they don’t have a guarantor, that can feel like a very frustrating situation.
Is a guarantor always necessary?
Not always. Some landlords may accept guarantor alternatives like:
- Paying rent upfront (though this means having a big chunk of cash available)
- Providing strong proof of savings
- Renting directly through private landlords
- Employer references
But in many cases, particularly with agencies and competitive listings, a guarantor is still one of the strongest ways to strengthen your application.
Why international students and expats often struggle
International students and expats often struggle because they are new to the UK but rarely have a local support network.
Even if they have a good enough job to pay the rent or parents overseas that are financially secure, landlords almost always prefer guarantors who live in the UK.
Why? Because UK-based guarantors are easier to verify and legally enforce if needed. After all, navigating a foreign legal system to reclaim unpaid rent can be messy.
That means many strong applicants may struggle to secure a property simply because they can’t provide the “right” type of guarantor.
This is especially common among:
- International students studying in the UK
- Professionals relocating for work
- Contractors and freelancers
- Tenants building UK credit history
- People moving independently without family nearby
The challenge isn’t whether they can afford rent, it’s about whether they can tick a box in the renting process.
If you are looking to rent in the UK but don’t have a guarantor, Rentmigo can help. Simply sign up to the platform and we act as a guarantor for you, helping you secure your dream property.
Why timing matters in competitive cities
In places like London and Manchester, you need to be able to act fast to secure a property, or you risk losing it.
The harsh truth is, landlords just don’t have to wait around. If they have a good listing at a decent price, they will likely be inundated with applications.
If another tenant has everything ready, including a guarantor, they may move ahead with them just because the process feels easier.
It’s a harsh reality but it’s true - in many cases landlords just don’t need to consider tenants without a guarantor - so having one can give you a real advantage.
How a guarantor can help speed up the rental process
A guarantor can speed up the rental process because landlords feel reassured earlier in the process, making them more likely to accept a tenant.
Ultimately, instead of having to provide multiple documents around affordability and savings, having a guarantor just makes the application and referencing process faster.
Here’s why.
1. Less hesitation from landlords
When landlords see a guarantor attached to an application, they often feel more comfortable making a decision quickly.
It removes uncertainty and makes the tenancy instantly feel low-risk.
2. Stronger applications in competitive markets
If multiple tenants apply for the same property, a guarantor can make your application stand out by being more appealing.
3. Faster referencing
Many referencing systems are built around guarantors being included from the beginning. Without one, agents may ask for extra checks or just dismiss your application altogether.
What happens if you don’t have a guarantor?
Not having a guarantor can make a lot of tenants feel stuck.
This is because they:
- Losing out to other applicants
- Being asked for several months of rent upfront to compensate
- Delayed during referencing
- Rejected despite being able to afford the rent
For tenants needing to find a home and move quickly in competitive cities, these delays can become expensive and stressful. But not having a personal guarantor does not mean you cannot rent…It just means you may need another route.
How a professional rent guarantor service can help
Professional rent guarantor services exist to solve exactly this problem.
Instead of relying on family or friends, you apply through a service that acts as your guarantor.
This gives landlords the reassurance they want while helping tenants move forward faster. For many renters, this is a much simpler option, especially if they are new to the UK without anyone to ask.
Rather than asking someone close to you to take on legal responsibility, you can use a professional service designed specifically for renting.
How Rentmigo helps tenants secure homes faster
Rentmigo was built for tenants who can afford the rent but don’t have anyone in their network who can act as their guarantor.
That includes:
- International students
- Expats relocating to the UK
- Freelancers and contractors
- Professionals building UK credit history
- Tenants without a UK support network
Instead of focusing only on whether you know someone that fits the bill, Rentmigo looks at whether you can actually afford the rent.
All you need to do is apply online, get a decision quickly, and once approved, Rentmigo works directly with the landlord or letting agent.
That means you’re one step closer to securing your dream property.
So, what are you waiting for?
Check your eligibility with Rentmigo and see if you can move forward faster.
