Rent Guarantors For Self-Employed And Freelance Tenants
Self-employed or freelance and asked for a guarantor? Rentmigo can act as your rent guarantor.
We look at what you actually earn and hold, including self-employment income and savings, rather than payslips.
- 5 to 10 minute application
- Combine income and savings
- Never more than one month's rent
A monthly payslip from one employer
Your income comes from multiple clients and project fees
Two years of accounts
You went freelance recently
An accountant's reference
You can't get one quickly
Guarantor: Rentmigo
Looks at what you actually earn and hold
Freelance income can be great, until it comes to renting
You've found a flat and your income covers the rent comfortably. Then the letting agent asks for two years of accounts, an accountant's reference or a UK guarantor.
For many self-employed people, this is where renting becomes tricky. Referencing checks are usually built around one employer and a monthly payslip. Income from multiple clients, day rates or project fees can be much harder for them to verify.
None of that means you can't afford the rent. It just means your finances don't fit the format the checks were designed for.
The good news is, you have another option.
Rentmigo can step in to act as your professional rent guarantor. We look at what you actually earn and hold, including self-employment income and savings. If you're approved, we give your landlord the peace of mind they're after to move forward with your tenancy.
Why self-employed tenants are often asked for a guarantor
Landlords and letting agents often ask self-employed tenants for a guarantor because their checks aren't built for income that doesn't look like a regular salary.
A guarantor is someone who agrees to pay your rent if you don't. Having one isn't a legal requirement for every tenancy, but many agents ask for one when an applicant's income is harder to check.
You might be asked for a guarantor because:
Income that changes
Your income changes from month to month or depends on projects
Short trading history
You've been trading for less time than the agent wants to see in accounts or tax returns
Out-of-date tax return
Your latest tax return doesn't reflect what you earn now, for example because you went freelance recently
Paid through a limited company
You pay yourself through a limited company, so your income looks lower on paper than what your business earns
No accountant's reference
The agent wants an accountant's reference that you can't get quickly
Family can't qualify either
Your parents or relatives can't be your guarantor because they're self-employed too, retired or don't pass the income checks
That last point catches a lot of people out. Some agents set strict rules for guarantors as well as tenants, so the person you'd normally ask may not qualify either.
We explain this in more detail in our guide on whether it's harder to rent while self-employed in the UK.
Rentmigo gives you another option when nobody you know fits the criteria.
Getting a guarantor with Rentmigo
Tell us how you earn
The online application takes around 5 to 10 minutes.
You can combine different sources of income, including self-employment income, salary, savings and family support. Tax returns, bank statements showing client payments and business accounts can all help us understand your finances.
We look at affordability, not payslips
We look at whether the rent is affordable based on your full financial position, not on whether you have a monthly payslip from one employer.
Once you're approved, Rentmigo acts as your rent guarantor and your landlord receives rent guarantee cover for the tenancy for up to 3 years.
Move forward with your tenancy
With Rentmigo in place, your landlord or letting agent has the guarantor they asked for. That means your application doesn't stall at the referencing stage over a missing payslip.
Before you pay, ask your agent whether they accept professional guarantors. It's a quick question that can save problems later, and our guide on whether professional guarantors are accepted by all landlords explains why it's worth asking.
Check your eligibilitySelf-employed renters we work with
Rentmigo is built for tenants who can afford the rent but don't fit traditional referencing checks.
If an agent has asked you for a guarantor and you don't have one who qualifies, we may be able to help. This includes:
- Sole traders who file Self Assessment tax returns
- Freelancers on day rates or project fees with several clients
- Contractors and consultants, including those working through their own limited company
- People who have recently left a salaried job to go freelance
- Creative and media freelancers whose work is seasonal or irregular
- Self-employed people who have moved to the UK and work for overseas clients
If you've recently relocated, our page on rent guarantors for expat workers may also be useful.
Why freelancers choose Rentmigo
Renting while self-employed often means proving the same income, in different formats, to different people. With Rentmigo, it's one application.
2 weeks – 1 month
One fee, depending on your application, and never more than one month's rent
Up to 3 years
Covered at the same property, so you don't pay again every year
5 – 10 minutes
To complete the online application
Renting while self-employed often means:
- Proving the same income, in different formats, to different people
- Asking a relative to take on legal responsibility for your rent
- Tying up months of business cash in rent paid upfront
One application.
- Income from different sources can be combined, including self-employment income and savings
- One fee of between two weeks' and one month's rent, depending on your application, and never more than one month's rent
- The fee covers up to three years at the same property, so you don't pay again every year
- The online application takes around 5 to 10 minutes
- No need to ask a relative to take on legal responsibility for your rent
- No need to tie up months of business cash in rent paid upfront
You can see how pricing compares in our guide to how much a rent guarantor service costs.
Frequently asked questions
Still have questions? Contact our support team anytime.
Freelance, and found a place you want to rent?
Being asked for a guarantor doesn't have to mean losing the property.
If you can afford the rent but don't have someone who meets the agent's criteria, Rentmigo may be able to act as your guarantor instead.
The application takes around 5 to 10 minutes, and you can do it all online.