A new guarantee product aims to removes the pain of student renters being rejected from rental properties mid-way through the application process.

Housing Hand’s Guarantor Passport works in the same way as a mortgage in principle, showing letting agents, landlords and other accommodation providers that the would-be tenant has their guarantor lined up.

James Maguire, sales and business development director (pictured), says the traditional journey is for a student renter to find a property they want, then face delays and confusion as they seek a guarantor, because most accommodation providers won’t allow them to apply without their guarantor details.

“[The passport] removes the pain of renters being rejected from rental properties mid-way through the application process and stamps out unnecessary delays in the rental journey that result in longer void periods for landlords,” he explains.

Address

Guarantor Passport works by removing the requirement for the renter to provide the address of the property they want to rent. Instead, they have an identity verification check and receive a digital certificate directly into their phone wallet confirming their eligibility for Housing Hand’s guarantor service up to a specific amount in monthly rent and up to a total liability of £50,000 per year. This allows students to apply for guarantor pre-approval at a much earlier stage in the letting process – up to two years before they find a rental home, with the Guarantor Passport remaining valid for three years - provided the student’s ID is still in date.

As part of Housing Hand’s standard guarantor service, there is an onboarding fee to the renter of £20. When they find a property, they complete the final guarantor application by providing details of their tenancy, proof of study, co-signer and subscription payment, and payment for the guarantor is only due once the tenancy starts.

The firm says it’s noticed an increase in accommodation providers requiring guarantors following the implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act. English Housing Survey data from 2024-2025 shows that one in five private renters were asked to provide a guarantor for rent payments before moving into their accommodation. Anecdotally, this figure is higher for students.

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