How much does a rent guarantor cost in the UK?
A professional rent guarantor in the UK costs a percentage of your annual rent, usually between 5% and 12%, paid once for twelve months of cover. On rent of £2,000 a month, that is roughly £1,200 to £2,900 for the year. Our own rates are 6%, 7% and 10%, and they are published in full on our pricing page.
What decides the percentage?
The rate depends on what you can prove about your money, not on who you are. Three things move it:
- Whether your income is verifiable in the UK. A UK bank account and UK payslips are the cheapest evidence to check, so they attract the lowest rate.
- Whether you have a UK financial history. Arriving recently is not a problem, but reading and checking foreign statements takes more work.
- How the rent compares to your income or savings. A rent that swallows most of your income is a different risk from one that does not.
What else do you pay?
Most guarantors charge a separate application fee before they check anything. Ours is £20 and it is not refunded if we decline you, because the checks have already been run by then. Ask any provider two questions before you pay: what the fee buys, and what happens to it if the answer is no.
Is a guarantor cheaper than paying rent in advance?
Paying rent in advance is no longer an option in England. Since 1 May 2026 the Renters' Rights Act caps rent in advance at one month, so the old route of offering six months up front has closed. Against that, an annual fee of one or two thousand pounds replaces several thousand pounds of your savings being tied up for a year.
What should you check before you pay?
- The cover limit, in months and in pounds. Ours is twelve months of rent or £60,000, whichever comes first.
- Whether damage is covered. For most guarantors, including us, it is not.
- What happens at renewal, and whether the fee is recalculated on your new rent.
- Whether anyone else has to co-sign. With us, nobody does.