- A guarantor does not legally have to be a homeowner, but many landlords and letting agents ask for one as part of their own referencing criteria.
- Homeownership is often treated as a sign of financial stability, since it gives a landlord something to fall back on if rent stops being paid.
- If you don't have a guarantor who owns property, a professional guarantor service like Rentmigo can act as your guarantor instead.
Being asked for a guarantor is common enough. Being asked for one who owns a home is where things usually get harder, especially if your parents rent, your friends are in the same position as you, or nobody in your life has bought a property yet.
Guarantor rules aren't set out in law. They're decided by each landlord or letting agent individually, which is why one might ask for the guarantor to be a homeowner and another might be happy with a high income and a clean credit history instead.
If you've been asked for a homeowner guarantor and don't have one, Rentmigo can act as your guarantor instead.
Why do some landlords ask for a homeowner guarantor?
Landlords ask for a homeowner guarantor because owning property is treated as proof they have something to lose if rent goes unpaid.
A mortgage lender has already checked that guarantor's income and credit history once, which some landlords see as a useful second opinion on top of their own checks. Property also ties someone to an address, which can make a landlord feel more confident about tracking them down if payments stop.
None of this makes a homeowner guarantor more reliable in practice. It's the type of reassurance that appears more in referencing criteria, not proof of anything more.
Is a homeowner guarantor a legal requirement?
No, there's no law in the UK that says a guarantor has to own a home, or that a tenant has to have a guarantor at all.
It helps to separate a few things that often get lumped together:
- The law: doesn't set guarantor rules for most private tenancies.
- A landlord's own requirement: a personal preference that can change from one landlord to the next.
- A letting agent's referencing criteria: standardised rules an agency applies across all the properties it manages.
- Market practice: something that's become normal without being compulsory.
A homeowner guarantor usually falls into the second or third category. It's asked for often enough to feel like a rule, but it isn't one everywhere. For more detail on where guarantors sit legally, our guide on whether landlords can legally require a guarantor in the UK covers it in full.
Why homeownership can make finding a guarantor harder
Homeownership is lower among the age group most people ask to be their guarantor, which is exactly why this trips so many renters up.
According to the English Housing Survey 2024-25 (GOV.UK), 65% of households in England owned their home, split between 36% who owned it outright and 29% with a mortgage.
Among 16 to 34 year olds specifically, only 42% were owner-occupiers, with 43% renting privately, almost the same proportion. If you're asking a sibling, partner or friend close to your own age to be your guarantor, there's a good chance they fall into that renting majority rather than the minority who own.
Location adds another layer. Owner occupation stood at 49% in London compared with 68% across the rest of England as of 2022-23 (GOV.UK), which is part of why guarantor requirements can feel especially tough for anyone renting in the capital.
None of this is a reflection of anyone's financial situation. It reflects how long it now takes to buy in the UK, not whether someone can be trusted to guarantee rent.
What else do landlords usually check about a guarantor?
Homeownership is only one part of what a landlord or letting agent looks at. Most also check income, credit history, and where a guarantor lives.
Income and affordability
Landlords want a guarantor whose income comfortably covers the rent if the tenant can't pay it. The exact multiple they ask for varies by landlord and letting agent, so it's worth asking what threshold applies to your property rather than assuming a standard figure.
Credit history
Most guarantors go through a credit check, in the same way a tenant would. Our guide on whether a guarantor needs a good credit score explains what that check usually involves.
UK residency and age
Guarantors are usually expected to be over 18 and living in the UK, so a landlord can pursue them through the UK courts if needed. If your only options are overseas, our guide on who can legally be a guarantor in the UK explains what usually rules someone in or out.
Can someone who doesn't own a home still be a guarantor?
Yes, in plenty of cases. It comes down to what that specific landlord or letting agent will accept.
Some focus mainly on income and credit history, and are happy to accept a guarantor who rents rather than owns, as long as the numbers work. Others treat homeownership as a fixed requirement and won't move on it, whatever else a guarantor can show.
Because there's no consistent rule across the market, it's worth asking the landlord or agent directly before ruling anyone out.
Our guide on alternatives to a UK guarantor for renting covers what else you can offer if the answer is no.
What can you do if you don't have a homeowner guarantor?
If you've been told your guarantor needs to own a home and yours doesn't, you still have options before you lose the property.
Start by asking the landlord or agent whether they'd accept a non-homeowner guarantor with strong income and a clean credit history. Referencing criteria are set by the individual landlord or agent, so it's worth checking rather than assuming the answer is no.
Paying rent in advance used to be a common fallback, but since 1 May 2026, England's Renters' Rights Act has capped upfront rent at one month for new tenancies, so this route is far more limited than it used to be.
A professional guarantor service can help with exactly this gap. Instead of asking a friend or family member to meet a landlord's homeowner requirement, Rentmigo can act as your guarantor directly. You apply online, we assess whether the rent is affordable for you, and if you're approved, we take on the guarantor role instead of someone in your life having to qualify.
Check your eligibility with Rentmigo to see whether we can help you secure the property, even without a homeowner guarantor to offer.
