Do you really need a guarantor when about to rent?

[kitchenmares]

We have nearly reached the last `bits` of selling our home. We have found a house to rent while we have a look around for a place to buy. The estate agent has given us a form for a person to be a `guarantor`..this person has to fill out (what I think) is a very personal form! The form wants to know: employment details, any adverse credit history, any county court judgement, previous address history and THEN the declaration..boy, that`s a beauty..they have to agree that personal files can be searched (credit etc) and assess applications from them and other members of their household for occasional debt tracing and fraud prevention!!!! WHO on earth is going to give anyone all this information just for us to rent a place? We`ve told the estate agents that when we have sold we will have clear thousands in the bank anyway (we don`t have a mortgage). By the way, we are in our 50`s and 60`s and not trashers and tearaways. Please can any one give advice about this form and do we REALLY need to get someone to sign it in order to rent? The estate agent says we do!?

[woofgang]

Do you really NEED to use this estate agent? cos I would tell him to stick his form where the sum don't shine!

[terambulan]

You dont need a guarantor to rent....just a hefty deposit.

[jenniprice]

Yeh you just need to show that you can pay for the rent yourself.
When I was a student I had a guarantor as I was a student and couldn't show how i'd pay if something happened.

However now I rent while working and I no longer need guarantor. I am in a job thats more than enough to pay rent and bills so they just take that as proof.
They did contact my employer to check though.

If you work then you can show that, if don't then thats probably why they need it.
If have money in bank then show this instead.
Otherwise they do need some sort of proff and back up,.

[kitchenmares]

Thankyou so much Woofgang, terambulan and jennieprice...BRILLIANT..WE ARE ARMED TO DO BATTLE!! Will let you know how we get on..going to see them tomorrow!