Guarantor for a Tenant

[Borisimo]

Hi there, I have been a gurantor for my estranged partner for the past 5 years. Unbeknown to me she vacated the property some time ago. It was by pure chance that I found out about this. To verify, I contacted the letting agent whose response was "the tenant has vacated the property" whilst I'm happy not to have the responsibility anymore, are the agents not obligated to let me, the guarantor, know when the tenant left the property I was responsible for?

[Diana M]

Re: Guarantor for a Tenant

If you were guarantor for the rent (and any breaches of the tenancy agreement) then your potential liability would have ceased when the Tenant's liability ceased.

I agree it would have been nice if someone had told you, but perhaps that 'someone' should have been your ex partner not the agent who wouldn't have any obligation since you have no legal arrangement with them (only the Tenant does if the property is being managed by the agent). Your involvement with them would only have kicked in when/if your ex had defaulted.

At least the good news is you now know for certain that you have no further responsibility

Di

[Borisimo]

Re: Guarantor for a Tenant

If you were guarantor for the rent (and any breaches of the tenancy agreement) then your potential liability would have ceased when the Tenant's liability ceased.

I agree it would have been nice if someone had told you, but perhaps that 'someone' should have been your ex partner not the agent who wouldn't have any obligation since you have no legal arrangement with them (only the Tenant does if the property is being managed by the agent). Your involvement with them would only have kicked in when/if your ex had defaulted.

At least the good news is you now know for certain that you have no further responsibility

Di

Hi there, thank you for responding so quickly. It is definitely a relief to know that I have no further responsibility - I was a little annoyed that after checking with the agent that they responded with a one liner 'the tennant has vacated'
I agree, it would have been nice to have been informed. I shall not enter into another agreement so lightly. 😬

[Diana M]

Re: Guarantor for a Tenant

I was a little annoyed that after checking with the agent that they responded with a one liner 'the tennant has vacated'

I'm a stickler for good manners too, but I've never found them in an estate agent's office

It could have been worse. They could have replied with a two liner saying "the tenant has vacated leaving £20k of rent arrears and damage so the bill is in the post".

I would never guarantee someone's rent. It cost me a small fortune when my daughter was at uni!

Di

[Borisimo]

Re: Guarantor for a Tenant

Hi Di
Thanks for your reply.
Dreadful manners from the managing agent, and so rude! Costs nothing does it.
i won't be a guarantor again that's for sure.
The original agreement was some 5 years ago, the agent has subsequently changed management and are now called something else. Would the original contract still stand? I know that the term of the contract ended and she went on to a periodic rolling monthly contract. I was never made aware of any of the changes. It's only when I started to track down the agents did I find out anything. Regards B