- Online guarantor services act as a professional guarantor for tenants who do not have a UK-based family member or friend to put down on their rental application.
- The process includes: apply online, pass an affordability check, get approved, and the guarantor service works directly with the landlord or agent to give you coverage.
- They are especially useful for international students, expats, freelancers and those new to the UK who may struggle to find someone in the UK to act as their guarantor
Online guarantor services work by acting as your guarantor online, meaning you can rent a property in the UK without needing a UK-based family member or friend to take on the responsibility for you.
If you’ve ever tried renting in the UK without a guarantor, you’ll know how quickly the process can become difficult. You find a property you love, you can afford the rent, you’re ready to move in. Then comes the question: “Do you have a guarantor?”
For many tenants, especially international students, expats, freelancers and people new to the UK, that’s where things quickly slow down.
You may not know someone in the UK who is eligible to be a UK guarantor. Or you may not feel comfortable asking family or friends to take on legal responsibility for you.
That’s where online guarantor services come in. They are designed to make renting easier, faster, and far more accessible for people who don’t have a traditional guarantor available.
If you’re trying to rent in the UK without a guarantor, Rentmigo can help. Our online guarantor service is designed to help you secure the property you love, quickly.
Found a place you want to rent and need to lock in a guarantor?
What are online guarantor services?
An online guarantor service is a company that acts as your guarantor during the rental process.
Instead of asking a parent, relative or friend to sign a legal agreement taking on the financial responsibility of your rent, you apply online through a professional company that signs on for you.
If approved, the guarantor company agrees to support your tenancy, giving landlords the reassurance that rent will be covered if payments are missed.
That gives landlords the security they want, whilst also removing a huge barrier to renting for those new to the UK.
And because everything happens online, the process is usually much quicker than trying to organise a personal guarantor.
Why are guarantors needed in the first place?
Landlords ask for guarantors because they want reassurance that the rent will be paid ontime.
Recently, new rental laws in the UK make it hard for landlords to evict tenants for rent unpaid. And whilst renting out a property has always comes with some level of risk, landlords try and cover themselves financially with a back-up plan. For many landlords, that back up plan is a guarantor.
This is a reason why guarantors are normally asked for when tenants:
- Are students
- Are new to the UK
- Have limited or no UK credit history
- Are self-employed
- Have recently started a new job
- Have non-traditional income
In many cases, it’s not about whether you can afford the rent, it's about that extra level of reassurance for the duration of the tenancy.
Who are online guarantor services most useful for?
Online guarantor services are particularly helpful for tenants who can afford the rent but don’t have someone in the UK who can act as a guarantor for them.
This usually includes (but is not limited to)
International students
Students moving to the UK often have family overseas, which can make finding a UK guarantor difficult.
Even financially secure parents may not be accepted if they live abroad.
See our guide around: Can parents overseas act as a guarantor for UK rent?
Expats moving to the UK
People moving to the UK for work may have a strong salary but little UK credit history or local support network to fall back on. This might make them more susceptible to being asked for a UK guarantor.
Freelancers and contractors
People with variable income often need to jump through extra referencing hoops, even when they earn enough to comfortably afford rent.
Tenants who prefer not to involve family
Even if someone could ask family or friends, many people simply prefer to keep finances separate and avoid putting pressure on personal relationships.
That's where online guarantor services can really come into their own.
How do online guarantor services work?
The process is actually much easier than many people expect.
With Rentmigo, everything happens online and is designed to move quickly so you can secure the property you want, as soon as you want.
Here’s how it works.
Step 1: Apply online
The first step is completing a short digital application, which you can start here.
This usually takes around 5 minutes.
You’ll start by providing details about your landlord and the property you want to rent. Once the landlord accepts the invitation, we'll ask you for information around:
- Your income
- Employment
- Financial situation
- Rental affordability
- Property details (if available)
The aim is to understand whether the rent is realistically affordable for you.
Unlike traditional referencing that landlords and letting agents use, the focus is not on whether you have a UK guarantor, but whether you can pay the rent.
Step 2: Affordability assessment
Once you apply, Rentmigo reviews your financial situation.
This helps determine whether you can reasonably afford the rent based on your finances. Unlike traditional guarantor systems, which often rely heavily on having a UK credit history, Rentmigo looks more broadly at affordability.
That means applicants may still qualify even if they:
- Are new to the UK
- Have no UK credit score
- Are international students
- Are self-employed
- Have overseas income
For many renters, this creates a much fairer process.
Step 3: Approval
If approved, Rentmigo agrees to act as your guarantor. This means you no longer need to find a personal guarantor to move forward with your tenancy.
In many cases, applications are processed and approved within 24 hours, which means you can move quickly. This is especially important in rental markets in major cities, where speed matters.
Step 4: Rentmigo contacts the landlord or letting agent
Once approved, Rentmigo works directly with the landlord or letting agent, giving them the reassurance they need.
The landlord receives confirmation that Rentmigo will act as guarantor for the tenancy and is able to move forward with the rest of the referencing process.
Step 5: You secure the property
Once the guarantor arrangement is in place, you can move forward with your tenancy.
That means you can secure the property without needing:
- A UK-based parent
- A friend willing to guarantee rent
- An employer to step in
- Months of rent upfront
For many tenants, this is the final piece that makes renting possible.
Get started with Rentmigo today.
Are online guarantor services legit?
Yes, many online guarantor services like Rentmigo are legit and widely used across the UK rental market.
However, it's always worth doing your research to make sure you are choosing a company that has a good reputation.
A legitimate guarantor company should:
- Clearly explain how the service works
- Be transparent about who qualifies for eligibility
- Work directly with landlords and agents
- Have a clear approval process
- Provide legally recognised guarantor agreements
Rentmigo works with landlords and letting agents to provide a professional guarantor service that fits within the normal rental process.
Do most landlords accept online guarantor services?
Yes, most landlords will accept online guarantor services because they reduce financial risk and make it easier to approve tenants.
For landlords, the benefit is that they get to consider tenants that can afford the rent, but that they may have had to reject due to strict tenancy rules.
This includes:
- International tenants
- Students
- Freelancers
- Expats
- People without UK credit history
Importantly, using an online guarantor service like Rentmigo does not mean landlords have to change how they work, it fits nicely into how they already reference and operate.
That’s why many landlords are becoming increasingly comfortable with professional guarantor providers.
Why landlords like online guarantor services
Landlords are often looking for security and an online guarantor service can provide that without adding extra work.
For landlords, they get:
- Reduced risk of rent arrears
- More flexibility when assessing tenants
- Access to a wider tenant pool
- Faster decision-making
- No need to change existing rental processes
For landlords in competitive rental markets, this can make applications easier to approve.
So, how do online guarantor services work?
Online guarantor services allow tenants to apply online, pass an affordability assessment, and use a professional company as their guarantor instead of relying on family or friends.
And because the process is fast, digital, and landlord-friendly, it often helps speed up approvals too.
If you’ve been struggling to rent because you don’t have a guarantor, Rentmigo can help.
Why tenants choose Rentmigo
Many tenants choose Rentmigo because it removes one of the biggest barriers to renting. Instead of worrying about who can act as guarantor, you have a professional option designed specifically for modern renters.
Rentmigo is often used by:
- International students
- Expats relocating to the UK
- Contractors and freelancers
- Professionals without UK credit history
- Tenants without local support networks
For many people, it simply makes renting easier.
Check your eligibility with Rentmigo today and see if you can rent without a traditional guarantor.
