Guarantor for a rental in the Netherlands, who can it be?

Can’t quite meet the income requirement for a rental? A guarantor (garantsteller) can make the difference: someone who promises to pay your rent if you don’t. Here’s who can be your guarantor, what they sign and what you both need to watch out for, including when your family lives outside the Netherlands.

What is a guarantor?

A guarantor vouches for your rent. If you don’t pay, the landlord can claim the money from your guarantor. Legally this is called a borgtocht (suretyship), and your guarantor is your borg.

Landlords ask for a guarantor when you don’t meet their income requirement yourself, for example because you’re a student, just starting your first job or on a temporary contract. Income requirements for renting in the Netherlands explains how that requirement works.

A guarantor is not a deposit

In Dutch, borg can mean two things:

• The deposit (waarborgsom): money you pay upfront and get back at the end. It’s at most two months’ basic rent.

• Standing guarantor (borg staan): someone else promises to pay if you don’t.

A landlord may ask for both. Even with a guarantor, the deposit can’t be more than two months’ basic rent.

Who can be your guarantor?

Any adult can act as a guarantor, but the landlord decides whom they accept. It’s usually a parent or other relative. Sometimes an employer acts as guarantor, for example when you’re relocating for work.

The landlord mainly looks at your guarantor’s income. It has to be stable and is often higher than what’s required from you as a tenant, because your guarantor also has their own housing costs. Your guarantor may be screened too, just like you.

Not every landlord accepts a guarantor. So ask before you respond, along with these questions:

• What income does my guarantor need?

• Do you accept a guarantor who lives outside the Netherlands?

• Which documents do you want to see, and in which language?

What your guarantor needs to provide

Landlords usually ask for:

• valid ID

• proof of income: recent payslips and an employer’s statement (werkgeversverklaring), a pension statement, or for business owners an income statement or annual accounts

• a signed guarantee, also called a garantverklaring or borgstellingsovereenkomst

Ask your guarantor to get this ready in advance, so you can respond fast when a home comes up. Documents you need to rent a home in the Netherlands lists what you need yourself.

What does a guarantor sign?

Your guarantor signs a guarantee. If they do so as a private individual, Dutch law gives them extra protection:

• It must state a maximum amount. Without a maximum amount, the guarantee isn’t valid.

• It must be in writing.

• Married or in a registered partnership? Then your guarantor’s partner must give permission. Without it, the partner can have the guarantee annulled later.

Read the document together:

• How high is the maximum amount? For example 12 months’ rent: at €1,200 a month, that’s €14,400.

• What does it cover? Just the rent, or also service charges and damage to the home?

• How long does it run? The whole tenancy, or until a fixed date?

Note: on top of the maximum amount, the landlord can also claim interest and costs, such as collection costs.

What it means for your guarantor

Being a guarantor is a real financial commitment. If you don’t pay your rent, the landlord can claim it from your guarantor, up to the maximum amount plus interest and costs. Whatever your guarantor pays, they can then claim back from you.

So agree on a few things upfront:

• Tell them straight away when money gets tight, not once you’re already behind.

• Ask the landlord whether the guarantee can end once you meet the income requirement yourself.

No guarantor?

These can help:

• Savings. Some landlords count your savings.

• Renting together. With a second income you may meet the requirement.

• An employment contract or employer’s statement. Starting a better-paid job soon? Send it along.

• A lower rent. A studio, room or different neighbourhood might just fit your budget.

On a temporary contract or working as a freelancer? Also read Renting with a temporary contract or as a freelancer.

Not sure whether you need a guarantor? Use the Rent Calculator to see what rent fits your income.