Finding a guarantor for your rental - five practical solutions

So, you’ve finally found the apartment of your dreams! However, the landlord or agency usually requires a guarantor as part of the rental application. What is this additional requirement? Is it mandatory? 

For certain candidates, finding someone to act as a guarantor can be challenging. Use our guide to find a guarantor and get your application to the top of the pile.

What is a guarantor? 

During the lease term, the guarantor contractually agrees to pay the tenant's rent and other charges if the tenant defaults. A guarantor can be a natural person or a legal person (company, association). 

The landlord can choose between two types of guarantee in the lease: 

• simple guarantee
• joint and several guarantee 

With the simple guarantee, the landlord can only pursue the guarantor according to a highly codified procedure. Once the outstanding amounts have been certified, the landlord must first pursue the tenant by filing with the appropriate court. If the landlord is unable to collect the outstanding amounts using this method, they may then pursue the guarantor to collect payment. 

Under a joint and several guarantee, the landlord is not required to follow the above steps. As soon as the tenant fails to make payment, the landlord has the right to contact the guarantor to demand payment of any amounts owed. Not surprisingly, the more secure joint and several guarantee is more commonly used. 

Is a guarantor mandatory? 

You’re not legally required to have a guarantor to obtain a rental. On the other hand, landlords typically require one when tenants have irregular or insufficient income, as is the case with students, young workers, temporary workers, or people on fixed-term contracts. 

How do you know if you need a guarantor? Landlords use a simple rule: Candidates must earn three times the rent. Therefore, your net monthly salary must be at least €2,100 for a monthly rent of €700. 

Don't earn enough? Self-employed or have a temporary contract? You'll have to find a guarantor. 

Note: Some landlords may require a guarantor, even if you have sufficient income.

1. Ask a loved one to vouch for you

This first solution is the easiest and fastest: Ask someone close to you if they would act as a guarantor. This could be: 

• a family member 
• a friend 
• a colleague

Noteworthy: Are you a foreigner? It’s possible to have someone who lives in another country act as your guarantor. However, opting for a French guarantor gives more weight to your application and reassures the landlord.

What are the conditions for having someone close act as your guarantor? In general, they should:  

• have a stable income that is sufficient to handle their own rent and liabilities as well as yours 
• have a permanent contract (excluding probationary period), be a civil servant, or be self-employed with two years of experience
• create a comprehensive guarantor file containing the following: 

Please note: You can submit copies. Documents must be in French (translated or original). 

2. Use the Visale Guarantee 

The Visale Guarantee is an alternative for those who cannot find a guarantor among friends and family. It was established by Action Logement, a social services group providing housing assistance. To be eligible, you must meet specific criteria. 

First, it is aimed explicitly at French nationals residing in Europe or holding a valid residence permit or visa. 

This program can be accessed by: 

• individuals under the age of 30, regardless of professional status 
• employees over 30 in a difficult situation (employed for less than six months, monthly salary less than €1,500 net) 
• public housing tenants or those with short-term leases 

Students from the European Union (or outside the EU) with a long-stay visa can also apply. 

The Visale guarantee is free, and it assures landlords that they will collect the rent. 

On the other hand, it has constraints. It only covers up to 36 months of outstanding payments and does not apply to sublets. In addition, the monthly payment is limited to the lower of: 

• €1,500 in the Paris region and €1,300 in the rest of France, or 
• 50% of the tenant's monthly income 

3. Use a private guarantor 

A third option is to choose a private company to act as your guarantor. For a monthly fee, this company will cover the rent for the duration of your lease. 

How does it work? 

• You submit an application including supporting documents, much the same as you provided to the landlord. 
• The company reviews these documents and determines your creditworthiness. 
• You sign a contract stating the guarantees and the service fee, which is usually between 3 and 5 % of the rent. 

The table below outlines the pros and cons for the tenant and the landlord. 

4. Ask your employer for help

Are you an employee? Did you know that your company can help you find housing? Indeed, some companies will agree to act as a guarantor for their employees as part of the hiring or transfer process. As such, companies can: 

• mitigate any difficulties they are experiencing attracting and recruiting candidates to regions of France that have tight housing markets 
• attract rare or highly sought-after candidates 
• encourage workforce mobility 

Do you have an upcoming assignment in a Paris business district for which you need accommodations? Given that the Paris housing market is very tight, why not negotiate with your future employer and ask them to act as your guarantor? The company’s financial strength will give you credibility with the landlord. And the latter won’t have to worry about not getting paid!  

Asking the company that you want to join for help allows you to verify its corporate social responsibility policy. If the company is ready to help you, that means it’s genuinely concerned about the well-being of its employees. These types of programs are more often found in large companies. Some even have formalized procedures for this type of employee assistance. 

5. If you’re having difficulty finding a guarantor, consider a bank.  

Are you finding that the above solutions do not fit your situation? As the name suggests, a bank guarantee is a process whereby a bank acts as your guarantor. 

However, it’s quite burdensome. Indeed, you have to deposit a sum of money into a special account. Depending on the bank, the amount can vary from 1 to 2 years of rent. 

This amount remains frozen for the duration of the lease. In exchange, the bank issues a guarantee certificate that you provide to the landlord. 

This solution is advantageous for people who have funds but are unable to find a personal guarantor. On the other hand, it is burdensome to set up for those who do not have the necessary funds upfront. In addition, the money is frozen, so you can’t use it for any other project. 

Also note that: 

• not all banks offer this service 
• conditions differ from bank to bank 
• the bank may charge fees for opening the account and managing it, as well as administrative and other fees 

If you are considering this option, familiarize yourself with the terms and conditions, including the lead time. If it takes a couple of weeks to set up, you may well miss out on several rental opportunities. 

Will you be moving to Paris soon? We’ve been helping our customers find the right property for over 20 years. We understand your needs! Check out our selection of furnished accommodations for a Parisian lifestyle that will surely suit you!