Should I agree to be rent guarantor for my dad?

catzooo

My dad and sister are looking to rent a new place together. My mum has just had to go into a care home and my dad is so lonely on his own. They both rent separately at the moment.
Dad is 89, has approx £120k in savings, but this has been split now so that half is available to pay mums care home fees. The y sold the family home 2 years ago and moved into a rented bungalow as mum couldn't manage stairs.
They have found a suitable house to rent, but my sister doesn't work and claims ESA, and dad has his pension.
They have asked me to be a guarantor for the rent.
My situation is I own my home, no mortgage, I have a job but haven't worked since last October as I have cancer and am still on treatment. I have been on the minimum SSP, soon to change to ESA. therefore I can not show income able to cover the rent of £500 pm.
They have already offered over the rent asked - it was £475 and they have agreed to pay £500. They have also offered to pay 6 months rent upfront.
I know my dad will pay the rent, no problem.
But, will I be accepted as guarantor as I am not working at the moment? Should I be aware of anything else?
I really feel I can't say no. I live 150 miles away from them, my sister has been doing her best to look after mum for months now, and is doing all she can for dad - shopping, cleaning, taking him to see mum. Due to my health I can't drive at the moment, but do manage to get over to visit usually once a week.

monty-doggy

I'f you know it will get paid, its worth a try but with no proof of income they may say no.
I'm really sorry for your awful situation, I hope you get sorted and wish you the best for your health xx

19lottie82

I can’t see you being accepted if you’renot working.



I find it odd that they require a guarantorfor a lease where the rent is paid in full upfront?



Perhaps check that this is definitely thecase.

Lifeforms

Rent will never be paid up front, they'll have paid a period of rent, but usually it's after that period that problems will turn up.

be aware that you potentially could be liable until they move out, there is no get out clause for you. If they default, you will be sought after to gain the lost money out.

That said, it's a bad situation for you. But if your dad has savings and is moving in with your sister then there is a chance that will affect any benefits your sister may be getting. If there's savings there that will be used to pay rent you should be ok, but it's the future, who knows what happens in the future.

pmlindyloo

Being a house owner may be enough to have them accept you as a guarantor.

Basically they are looking for an assurance that they have someone to 'chase' if the rent is unpaid or damage occurs and the tenants cannot pay.

I am also a little puzzled why they are asking for this as your dad and sister have offered 6 months up front.

The other possibility is to ask your dad to show them his savings account (if he hasn't already done so) to prove that he has 'assets' to cover future rent/damages.

What a horrible time for your family. Good luck with it all.

emmaglet

I had no one in a position to be a guarantor for me, so I paid 6 months rent up front and everything was okay. I thought that paying 6 months upfront was used instead of needing a guarantor?

catzooo

Thanks for the advice.
I have now seen the guarantor form from the agent, it is 4 pages long and asks about my employer and gross salary. I guess the agent may contact my boss to verify? I have asked sis to ask agent if my salary will be accepted - under £9k on last P60 due to being on SSP.
I have asked her to push the agent to accept them without a guarantor as they are offering to pay over the original monthly rent, and to pay 6 months up front.
Sis will be giving up her social housing and does know she will not get any housing benefit.
But, all in all they will both be better off living together. Dad can easily pay the rent and all other bills shared.
.....Not to mention he is also paying £600 per week for mums care. DAd is devastated, 6 weeks ago all was well - mum living at home able to get around slowly and only a bit confused sometimes. Now mums dementia is worsening fast after an infection. She is bed ridden and doesnt know us. And they lived frugally, holidays were self catering in UK, and they still got their 15 year old box of a TV as "it will see us out"

arcon5

As a bankrupt on a low income living with partner and child, we offered our LL (BR Jan 2013, moved May 2013) 6 months rent up front + deposit as usual and it was accepted.

Point is, a lot of LLs will accept such offers. Your average scumbag simply wont have this sort of money available to them in the first place, so it certainly milks out a lot of bad apples.

Guest101

As other have said, if they dont accept 6 months upfront, see if you can find somewhere else. LL would be silly to throw away 6 months rent, just like that.

arcon5

catzooo wrote: »

Thanks for the advice.
I have now seen the guarantor form from the agent, it is 4 pages long and asks about my employer and gross salary. I guess the agent may contact my boss to verify? I have asked sis to ask agent if my salary will be accepted - under £9k on last P60 due to being on SSP.
I have asked her to push the agent to accept them without a guarantor as they are offering to pay over the original monthly rent, and to pay 6 months up front.

HomeLet by any chance?

Dunroamin

catzooo wrote: »

Thanks for the advice.
I have now seen the guarantor form from the agent, it is 4 pages long and asks about my employer and gross salary. I guess the agent may contact my boss to verify? I have asked sis to ask agent if my salary will be accepted - under £9k on last P60 due to being on SSP.
I have asked her to push the agent to accept them without a guarantor as they are offering to pay over the original monthly rent, and to pay 6 months up front.
Sis will be giving up her social housing and does know she will not get any housing benefit.
But, all in all they will both be better off living together. Dad can easily pay the rent and all other bills shared.
.....Not to mention he is also paying £600 per week for mums care. DAd is devastated, 6 weeks ago all was well - mum living at home able to get around slowly and only a bit confused sometimes. Now mums dementia is worsening fast after an infection. She is bed ridden and doesnt know us. And they lived frugally, holidays were self catering in UK, and they still got their 15 year old box of a TV as "it will see us out"

It's a terrible situation for everybody but has your sister really given enough thought to giving up a secure tenancy? Has she looked at the possibility of doing a swap within the social housing sector as there should be lots of people looking to downsize after the introduction of the "bedroom tax".

If she does decide to go ahead with this, what will happen to her when your father dies?