Renting Guarantor

Narj · 3 Jun 2014 at 15:59

Don't do this. I haven't spoken to my sister since she drove me to the edge of a mental breakdown thanks to me being her guarantor. The ***** and her BF still haven't paid me everything owed so I just have nothing to do with them anymore.

Scythe · 3 Jun 2014 at 16:07

Phantom Shadow said:
Wow that's quite a list, but from what others are saying seems to be quite normal.

I needed a guarantor for my student flat, got a form from the landlord which was just a contract saying my guarantor agrees to pay the rent if I don't etc etc legal speak etc. Got dad to fill in all the details and sign it, that was that.

Same here. Why won't your parents be the guarantor?

Haggisman · 3 Jun 2014 at 16:18

AFK_Matrix said:
So I guess all these news reports are false too then about debt etc.

No one said they're false?

However news reports about people going about their daily lives with no problems at all wouldn't get much of an audience.

AFK_Matrix said:
Saying there is no problems with being a Guarantor is pretty dangeours imo.

Whereas blowing the problems out of all proportion like you're doing is perfectly acceptable?

Narj said:
Don't do this. I haven't spoken to my sister since she drove me to the edge of a mental breakdown thanks to me being her guarantor. The ***** and her BF still haven't paid me everything owed so I just have nothing to do with them anymore.

Unless your sister has had an operation recently, I doubt your sister and the OP's brother are the same person

To the OP - as people have mentioned, check the tenancy & guarantor agreements and make sure you will only be liable for your brother's share of the rent.

kaptainmarc · 3 Jun 2014 at 16:23

MikeTheNative said:
Not really, they need to prove that they can afford to pay the rent if the tenant can't. It seems people are entirely sure what an guarantor is and take it lightly.

sorry I should have stated

they only wanted him to do it because of my age being under 25. absolutely nothing to do with money in my case

Narj said:
Don't do this. I haven't spoken to my sister since she drove me to the edge of a mental breakdown thanks to me being her guarantor. The ***** and her BF still haven't paid me everything owed so I just have nothing to do with them anymore.

yeah don't do it if you know they are useless and wont sort there own money problems out.

benjii · 3 Jun 2014 at 17:01

It seems like all these issues people have could have been sorted by being a better judge of character and reading the tenancy/guarantor agreement.

Narj · 3 Jun 2014 at 20:17

kaptainmarc said:
yeah don't do it if you know they are useless and wont sort there own money problems out.

I never imagined in a million years that she'd do that to me. People change.

Tefal · 3 Jun 2014 at 20:36

Haggisman said:
I completely agree, but ultimately it comes down to how much the OP trusts his brother, and whether he can afford it. Someone coming into the thread saying not to do it under any circumstances because of some forum posts is hardly helpful.

but its not hios brother thats the onyl one hes trusting. if one of his friends gets ****ed and damages the house the op is liable

Guest2 · 3 Jun 2014 at 20:46

Go ahead... but be prepared somewhere down the line to be told you are paying money for a smashed up house, someone bond deposit, late payment of rent, if someone has moved out and landlord isn't getting rent etc etc.

I know this from past experience of living in Halls and multiple uni houses. My parent were only a Guarantor for me when i was at halls but lived with people in houses who had their parents as a Guarantor which went bad

Rroff · 3 Jun 2014 at 20:53

You never really realise just what little ***** some people are until you've had being a guarantor go wrong on you (even fully knowing what it can entail).

EDIT: I think in some ways your kind of oblidged to do it for family :S but it can definitely change your relationship with family members if it doesn't all go smoothly.

mattyfez · 3 Jun 2014 at 21:12

Being a guarantor essentially means you are taking full legal responsibility for the contract and any costs incurred.

If the rent is shared with housemates, the op could end up liable if one of the others bails or incurs other costs..

It's pretty risky.

Sindri · 3 Jun 2014 at 22:40

Thanks for the responses.

The contract does state that I would only be liable for any costs incurred on behalf of my brother, however this wasn't my main concern as I have no reason to believe he will stitch me up over the money.

My main worry was the fact that I would be providing them with so much confidential information, that any immoral type working for them wouldn't have much of a job stealing my identity etc.

Narj · 3 Jun 2014 at 22:44

Letting agents are about as immoral as you can get!!!

Phantom Shadow · 3 Jun 2014 at 22:53

Depending on how far away his uni is, could go in in person with the documents required? Or get your son to take in a copy. Might be able to get away with showing them so they are happy you can afford to cover the rent if needed, but without keeping any copies to steal your identity with.