- If you can't find a personal rent guarantor, professional rent guarantor services like Rentmigo can help you secure a property faster.
- Not having a rent guarantor is a common issue for international students, expats and professionals moving to the UK.
- Most landlords want guarantors who are UK-based, financially stable, and able to pass credit and affordability checks.
If you can’t find a rent guarantor, you still have options, including using a professional rent guarantor service like Rentmigo, paying rent upfront, or strengthening your rental application with proof of income and savings.
If you’re trying to rent in the UK without a guarantor, you are definitely not alone.
This is one of the biggest issues that international students, expats, freelancers and professionals moving to the UK for work come up against when trying to find a place to live.
You might have a good income, savings, and every intention of paying your rent on time, but still find yourself stuck because you do not know someone in the UK who can act as your guarantor.
And unfortunately, in competitive rental markets, that can become a real problem.
The good news is that not having a guarantor does not mean you cannot rent in the UK.
If you’re struggling to find a guarantor, Rentmigo can help. We act as a professional rent guarantor for tenants who can afford the rent but don’t have someone in the UK to support their application.
Found a place to rent and need a guarantor? Apply today
Who qualifies as a rent guarantor?
In the UK, a rent guarantor is someone who agrees to cover your rent if you are unable to pay it. From a landlord’s perspective, they are there as a financial safety net.
That is why landlords tend to have fairly strict rules around who qualifies. In most cases, a guarantor must:
- Be based in the UK
- Have a stable income
- Pass credit checks
- Show strong financial reliability
- Sometimes own property in the UK
- Earn enough to cover the rent if required
- Be over 18
The exact criteria can vary slightly between landlords and letting agents, but the main thing they are looking for is financial stability.
The problem is that not everyone knows someone who fits those requirements.
For example, your parents may live overseas, your friends may not earn enough, your family may not have UK credit history and you may not feel comfortable asking someone to take on legal responsibility for you.
This is why finding a guarantor can become such a major hurdle for tenants who are new to the UK.
Why do landlords want a rent guarantor?
Landlords want a rent guarantor because they want reassurance that rent will still be paid if something goes wrong.
The truth is that renting out property always comes with some level of risk.
If a tenant suddenly loses income, stops paying rent, or experiences financial difficulties, landlords want to know there is another layer of protection behind the tenancy.
That is especially important for tenants who:
- Are students
- Struggle to rent due to limited UK credit history
- Are self-employed
- Have recently started a job
- Are moving to the UK from abroad
- Have never rented in the UK before
From the landlord’s point of view, a guarantor reduces uncertainty and makes the tenancy feel safer and lower risk.
That is why applications with guarantors often move through referencing faster, especially in busy rental markets where landlords have multiple applicants to choose from.
Does not having a guarantor mean you can’t rent in the UK?
No, absolutely not. You can still rent in the UK without a guarantor.
But the reality is that it can make the process more difficult.
Some landlords may refuse applications without a guarantor entirely, while others may ask for alternatives like:
- Several months of rent upfront
- Proof of large savings
- Employer references
- A professional online guarantor service
This is especially common in cities like London and Manchester where competition for rentals is high.
If a landlord has multiple applicants, they will often move toward the one that feels easiest and safest to approve. Usually, that's one with a solid guarantor.
In this case, not having a guarantor can sometimes slow your application down and make it harder to secure the property you want. And whilst it can make things harder, it does not mean renting is impossible.
Can you pay for someone to be your guarantor?
Yes, you can. This is exactly what professional rent guarantor services like Rentmigo are designed for.
Instead of asking a friend or family member to take on legal responsibility for your tenancy, you apply through a company that acts as your guarantor professionally.
This is becoming increasingly popular across the UK rental market, especially among international students, expats, freelancers and those new to the UK.
The good news is that process of securing a professional rent guarantor is usually quick, fully online.
With Rentmigo, you complete a digital application, go through an affordability assessment, and if approved, Rentmigo acts as your guarantor for the tenancy.
This gives landlords the reassurance they want while helping tenants move forward without needing a traditional guarantor.
Start your application with Rentmigo today.
What to do if you can’t find a rent guarantor
If you can't find a guarantor, there are still several things you can do.
Some options are easier than others depending on your situation.
1. Use a professional rent guarantor service
For many tenants, this is the most realistic and easy option.
A professional service like Rentmigo acts as your guarantor if you do not have someone that you can ask yourself.
Instead of relying on personal connections, you apply online and are assessed based on whether you can realistically afford the rent.
If approved, Rentmigo provides the landlord with the reassurance they need to move forward with your tenancy.
For many people, this removes one of the biggest barriers to renting in the UK.
2. Offer to pay rent upfront
Some landlords may accept several months of rent upfront instead of a guarantor.
This helps reduce their financial concern because part of the rent is already secured.
But there is an obvious downside...It can be very expensive.
For example, if your rent is £1,500 per month and you are asked for six months upfront, that is £9,000 immediately, before deposits and moving costs.
For people moving to the UK, that is not always realistic.
It also ties up a big amount of money that could be used elsewhere.
3. Strengthen your application with financial proof
If you do not have a guarantor, strong financial evidence can sometimes help reassure landlords.
This may include employment contracts, payslips, proof of savings, bank statements or references from previous landlords.
This can be particularly useful if you are working with a more flexible landlord rather than a big agency with strict referencing rules.
4. Rent directly through private landlords
Private landlords are sometimes more flexible than letting agents.
If you can explain your situation clearly and show that you are financially stable, they may be willing to proceed without a guarantor.
However, this approach can take longer and is not guaranteed to work, especially in competitive rental markets.
So, what should you do if you can't find a rent guarantor?
If you can't find a rent guarantor, first, remember that this is incredibly common, especially if you are an international student, expat or professional moving to the UK.
Not having a guarantor does not mean you cannot rent, it just means you may need an alternative approach.
For many tenants, that means using a professional rent guarantor service like Rentmigo to help bridge the gap between what landlords want and what modern renters can realistically provide.
How Rentmigo helps tenants that can't find a guarantor
Rentmigo was designed specifically for tenants who can afford the rent, but struggle to find someone who meets the traditional guarantor profile.
Instead of focusing only on whether you know someone who fits the profile in the UK, Rentmigo looks at your ability to pay rent.
That creates a much more realistic route into the rental market for modern tenants.
And because the process is fast and online, it can help you move quickly when you find the right property.
Check your eligibility with Rentmigo and take the stress out of renting without a guarantor.
