Not everyone is able to provide a UK guarantor, so NTU has partnered with Housing Hand, who can act as your guarantor. Apply to start you Housing Hand guarantor application.

Many private landlords and agents ask for a third party to act as a guarantor for the rent payments before they'll agree to let a property to a student. It's important for students who need a guarantor, or anyone considering being a guarantor, to understand what's involved. The information below highlights what you need to be aware of.

A guarantor is a third party, such as a parent, who agrees to pay your rent if you don't pay it. Your landlord can ultimately take legal action to recover any unpaid rent from your guarantor. Your landlord may want to check that your guarantor is able to pay the rent in the same way that they've checked your ability to pay – this is usually done by carrying out a credit check. Guarantee agreements must be in writing and set out the guarantor's legal obligations.

This will depend on what the agreement says. Often, a guarantor agreement also extends to other conditions under the tenancy, such as any damage caused to the property. It's always best that the guarantor checks the tenancy agreement to see exactly what obligations they are guaranteeing.

Landlords will usually want a guarantor who lives in the UK, which may be a problem for you if you're an international student. Previously, landlords would demand up to a year of rent in advance but due to the Renters Right Act, this has been restricted to one month. If you can't get a UK-based guarantor, you may find it more difficult to secure accommodation, and therefore be more prone to scams.

If you share accommodation with other tenants under a joint tenancy agreement, it's common for the guarantee to apply to all the rent, and not just your share. It's best to check the guarantor agreement carefully and ask the landlord or agent any questions if something is unclear. As soon as the agreement is signed, the guarantor is bound by its terms and conditions. It may be possible to negotiate with the landlord for a variation to a guarantor agreement. This would ensure that the guarantor's liability was limited to only your rent payments, or any damage caused by you.

If a guarantor agreement is in a standard form rather than one that has been negotiated individually, it may be possible to challenge a standard term if it is considered unfair. A term may be unfair if it creates a 'significant imbalance' between the parties to the agreement. If a term is held to be unfair, then it cannot be relied on and has no effect in law.

There are several private companies who can act as a guarantor for students. You would need to speak with the landlord/agent to see if they would accept this type of guarantor. These companies charge a fee for providing this service and each scheme will have terms and conditions you should read and be aware of.