How to Evade Being a Guarantor

Mikazaru

When my Dad was my guarantor when I was a student his boss had to fill in forms to say how long he was going to be working there, he also had to be earning X times my annual rent. If they don't want to say no outright maybe they could say their income isn't high enough for the income multiples needed.

mufi

Very many thanks to you all - unfortunately, simply saying "no" isn't an option for these lovely gentle people; they are the type to avoid confrontation at all costs, particularly with their much-loved family. If I didn't know them, this would have been my advice as well.

I have relayed your helpful ideas; hopefully the fact that they are retired and on a limited income should give them their get out of jail free card. Had to laugh when I read that only those working could be guarantors - trust me, the only people left in GB with guaranteed incomes and savings are the retired; I should know, I'm one of the idle old gits.:rotfl:

19lottie82

mufi wrote: »

Very many thanks to you all - unfortunately, simply saying "no" isn't an option for these lovely gentle people; they are the type to avoid confrontation at all costs, particularly with their much-loved family.

I feel your concern for these people, but if this really is the case, i don't think anything can be done here.

paddyrg

Is it possible to only guarantee a single month's rent, on the basis that the eviction process would begin the same day as any guarantee payment invoked? The LL may reject that, problem is then solved.

sonastin

19lottie82 wrote: »

I feel your concern for these people, but if this really is the case, i don't think anything can be done here.

Agreed. If they can't say no to their children then they have made a rod for their own back. They should start saving up to pay the rent when it becomes due.

RobertoMoir

mufi wrote: »

Very many thanks to you all - unfortunately, simply saying "no" isn't an option for these lovely gentle people; they are the type to avoid confrontation at all costs, particularly with their much-loved family. If I didn't know them, this would have been my advice as well.

Well therein lies the rub, if they dislike confrontation with a family member with a sense of entitlement, they're really going to hate confrontation with a hacked off landlord with contract law on their side who cares far more about his lack of rent than about any of their problems.

Can they not just say "no" then simply don't discuss the matter further at all? I agree with missile - I see why it might be difficult but a straightforward refusal to do this and to discuss it further is likely to be far less disruptive to their family overall than agreeing to do it then things going pear-shaped.

Errata

mufi wrote: »

Very many thanks to you all - unfortunately, simply saying "no" isn't an option for these lovely gentle people; they are the type to avoid confrontation at all costs, particularly with their much-loved family. If I didn't know them, this would have been my advice as well.

I have relayed your helpful ideas; hopefully the fact that they are retired and on a limited income should give them their get out of jail free card. Had to laugh when I read that only those working could be guarantors - trust me, the only people left in GB with guaranteed incomes and savings are the retired; I should know, I'm one of the idle old gits.:rotfl:

What's their credit rating like? Could be quite poor if they don't use credit for anything, and a v small income coupled with a poor rating will possibly make them unaccepable as guarantors.

BitterAndTwisted

Even if they were accepted as guarantors, which is questionable, a family rift at some point is almost inevitable. They should offer to pay on the behalf of this f e c k l e s s and irresponsible middle-aged loser the equivalent of six months rent in advance but only if they can afford to lose it And that's it.

BigAunty

mufi wrote: »

Very many thanks to you all - unfortunately, simply saying "no" isn't an option for these lovely gentle people; ..

So pretty much they are stuffed then, if they are going to consent to being guarantors to a profligate oaf and simply cross their fingers that they will be rejected (possibly but not certain) and hope that their adult child will not wrack up rent arrears (unlikely).

If they offered this child 6 month's upfront rent, then at least they cap their losses at this sum, and can perhaps persuade them to pay it back (unlikely they'll see a penny) whereas being a guarantor is open ended.

6 month's rent on a 1 bedroom place is likely to be a huge sum, though.

geoffken

Seems best answer is play the retired card. i.e. agent says you have to be working to be able to be a guarantor.

End of discusssion.