What is a Rent Guarantor?

Can Housing Hand stand as rent guarantor for a group?

A guarantor is required per person. If more than one tenant requires a guarantor, each tenant must apply to Housing Hand separately. In the event that some tenants would like to use Housing Hand and some do not, we can stand for just those that want to, i.e. 3 tenants require a guarantor, 2 use Housing Hand and the third uses their own guarantor.

All tenants can however use the same co signer, as long as the co signer does not live in the same property.

What is Housing Hand?

Housing Hand is a rent guarantor service in Ireland. So if you cannot find a guarantor when you are trying to rent a property, we can stand as your guarantor. Applying is quick, easy and free and we will give you an instant response of concerning your eligibility and a quote of your fee based on your specifications.

Will my accommodation provider accept Housing Hand as my rental guarantor?

Housing Hand works with thousands of partners nationwide ranging from individual Landlords through to very large Accommodation Providers such as University halls of residence. As a company Guarantor with an insurance policy that covers  every tenant, Housing Hand guarantees that it is one of the safest and most secure options on the market available to your accommodation provider. We guarantee that your rent will be paid for the whole period of your tenancy agreement should you default on payment, as well as the provision to cover damages above the deposit value.

If your Accommodation Provider is not on our list of partners, we will contact them on your behalf. Whilst we cannot guarantee that every accommodation provider in Ireland will work with us, we are confident that we will be able to find you alternative accommodation with one of our partners if they don’t.

In the unlikely event that we are not able to act as your Irish Rental Guarantor, we provide you with a refund.

I have applied online and received a Provisional Certificate of Eligibility. What is this and what do I do with it?

When you apply online, and if you are eligible for the service, you are emailed a downloadable Provisional Certificate of Eligibility. The certificate will allow you to inform your Accommodation Provider that you have a Rental Guarantor in principal should they require official assurance before showing you any properties. However, please note that you will still need to complete the application process before we become your guarantor. The certificate is just proof that you are eligible to use our service not that we are already acting as your guarantor. We will only sign the Guarantor Deed with your Accommodation Provider once you have completed the full application process with us.

Why can my co-signer not be my Guarantor?

Your co-signer may not be based in Ireland, be a homeowner or may not have sufficient income or credit history to be eligible to your landlord or letting agent.

Someone who might not be prepared to be your guarantor could be your co-signer as they are taking on a lesser risk than if they were a full guarantor.

Does a rent guarantor have to be a home owner?

Yes, normally.

For most of the accommodation providers who ask for one, the guarantor must be a home owner in Ireland. This is because, in case of default, the landlord or accommodation provider wants to be able to recover rent or damages from the guarantor. An Irish home owner is much more likely to be able to pay these costs than someone with no visible assets to their name.

Can I rent a house/room without a guarantor?

It’s possible, but it is getting more difficult. Fewer and fewer landlords or accommodation providers are willing to rent a property without asking for a guarantor. What is more, the guarantor needs to be based in Ireland.

If you are an international student, you will be asked to provide an Irish rent guarantor to rent a property in Ireland. Housing Hand can stand as your guarantor and facilitate your rental process. We work with thousands of student halls, landlords and letting agents worldwide. If your landlord or accommodation provider doesn’t already know Housing Hand, we will be more than happy to introduce ourselves and our guarantee service and help both of you to get an agreement.

Who can be a guarantor?

More and more accommodation providers and landlords ask tenants to have a guarantor to cover any risk.

Since the guarantor is the tenant’s representative, he/she agrees to co-sign the tenancy agreement and therefore becomes liable joint and several for any of the tenants obligations, in case of default or damages for example. To be accepted as a guarantor, you must be :

• an Irish resident
• a homeowner
• in full time employment
• able to provide proof of income sufficient enough to cover the costs associated with the rent in the tenancy.

When the guarantor meets these criteria, the accommodation provider will run a reference check before accepting the application.

The guarantor then has to sign the tenancy agreement alongside the tenant for the full term of the tenancy.

If you don’t have one and can’t find anyone who will act as a guarantor for you, Housing Hand can stand as a guarantor for your tenancy. If your landlord or letting agency doesn’t know us yet, we will introduce ourselves and our guarantor service to make your property search easier.

How do I get a guarantor?

One of the biggest problems tenants face when renting a property is not having a guarantor. This is a huge worry if you are not able to pay 6-12 months in advance to secure your property. Even if you do pay in advance, you may still need a guarantor. If you’re an international student, Housing Hand can be your guarantor so that you can pay your rent monthly.

Starting at just €350, our application process is simple.

International tenants have to provide a guarantor for their rent. International tenants who are unable to provide a guarantor are required by the letting agent / landlord to pay 6 to 12 months of the rent up front, in order to secure the property.

What is a guarantor?

A Rent Guarantor is someone who agrees to pay your rent if you are unable to and is required by your accommodation provider to pay rent arrears if you default on any of your payments.

Providing a guarantor for rent is common practice when renting a room or property in Ireland. The difficulty in providing a guarantor often comes from the requirements of a guarantor. A rent guarantor often has to:

• Be between the ages of 18-75

• Be an Irish homeowner

• Be able to prove they earn 2.5x the monthly rent

• Have a good credit history

A rent guarantor gives your future landlord the security that your rent will be paid on time and in full. A rent guarantor will also be expected to cover other costs incurred as detailed in your Tenancy Agreement, including damages costing more than the deposit or Joint and Several liabilities. Housing Hand can act as your rent guarantor. Find out if you are eligible by applying with us online.