Almost anyone over 18 can be a rent guarantor in law, but to be accepted they usually need to live in the UK, pass a credit check and earn a set multiple of the rent, often 36 times the monthly rent a year. Some landlords also prefer a homeowner. Retired people can often act if their income or savings are enough. Someone living abroad is usually turned down.
This guide covers private renting in England. The benefits rule below is England-only. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own tenancy laws, so check local advice there.
What the law says
Shelter says “there are no set rules about who may be a guarantor”. The NRLA’s insurance partner Rentguard says that in England, “legally anyone over the age of 18” can be a guarantor, although agreement clauses can set 21. In practice, the guarantor is “most often a close friend or relative of the tenant”, Shelter says.
The real test is whether the landlord or referencing company accepts them. Shelter says a guarantor is more likely to be accepted if they:
- have a good income
- have a good credit rating without defaults or county court judgments
- are a homeowner
- live in the UK
Typical checks by agents and referencing companies
Each company sets its own criteria. Here are examples from pages we read:
| Source | Location | Income | Credit and other checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canopy (referencing) | Must be UK-based | At least 36 × monthly rent a year | No active CCJs, and no satisfied CCJs in the last 3 years |
| Homeppl (guarantor company) | Must be a UK resident | Says most landlords ask for at least 40 × monthly rent | Same referencing as tenants: income, address history and ID |
| NRLA / Rentguard | UK resident, “so that legal action can be pursued” | Enough income or assets to cover the debt | Good credit history, address verified, ideally a homeowner |
Canopy also says a guarantor could fail referencing for temporary or casual work, self-employment of less than 3 months without enough proof of income, or a poor credit history.
For the sums behind income multiples, read how much income a rent guarantor needs.
Retired people, people on benefits and people abroad
Retired people. Often yes. Rentguard lists being “employed or retired with sufficient funds/income”. Homeppl says a guarantor can be retired, and that the money can come from “a savings pot or a pension”. Homeppl also gives an age range of 21 to 75 for its own process, so some providers may set an upper age.
People on benefits. No rule we found stops someone on benefits being a guarantor. Shelter says there are no set rules. Whether they are accepted depends on whether their income passes the provider’s test. Ask the agent how they count benefit income before you apply.
People living abroad. Usually not. Shelter says guarantors are more likely to be accepted if they live in the UK. Canopy requires a UK-based guarantor. Homeppl says “you cannot have a guarantor that lives abroad”. If your only guarantor lives overseas, look at rent guarantor services instead.
Shelter also notes a council housing or social services department could act as guarantor for someone it has a duty or power to house.
If you are the tenant on benefits (England)
Since 1 May 2026, the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 bans rental discrimination against people who receive benefits or have children in England. GOV.UK’s guidance gives an example where a landlord rejected a tenant on benefits who could not provide a guarantor. The council found discrimination because the guarantor was “only in practice being required of benefits recipients”.
The same guidance says a landlord “may require a guarantor from all prospective tenants”. So a landlord can still ask everyone for a guarantor. They cannot ask for one only because you get benefits. Landlords can still check income, but GOV.UK says they should set “the same income requirement for all prospective tenants and treat all forms of income equally”.
See our guide to renting on Universal Credit for more.
Worked example (fictional)
Leah (fictional) wants to rent a flat at £1,000 a month. She asks her uncle, who is retired, to be her guarantor. His pension is £30,000 a year (fictional).
| Income multiple | Income needed | Uncle’s pension | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36 × £1,000 | £36,000 | £30,000 | £6,000 short |
| 40 × £1,000 | £40,000 | £30,000 | £10,000 short |
Her uncle would fail an income-only test at either multiple. Some providers also consider savings or assets, as Rentguard’s criteria suggest, so it is worth asking. Otherwise Leah could look for a different guarantor or a guarantor service.
Check a guarantor’s income
Use the guarantor affordability calculator to see what a guarantor would need to earn for your rent at common multiples. Our guide to renting with a guarantor covers what they sign up to.
Sources
- Shelter Legal England: Guarantors for tenancy agreements, checked 4 October 2026
- GOV.UK: Rental discrimination under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, checked 4 October 2026
- Canopy: Guarantor criteria, checked 4 October 2026
- Homeppl: Who can be a rent guarantor?, checked 4 October 2026
- NRLA: A guide to guarantors for residential tenancies, checked 4 October 2026
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Report a possible error.