Being a Guarantor For Renting?

Guarantor rental - legal rights?

• My father is the guarantor on a flat that I am renting with my boyfriend, unfortunately the relationship between my father and myself has deteriorated and he has become very threatening. He has a history of domestic violence and therefore I am scared to let him into the flat when I am alone there. He left a voice mail stating it is his right to come into the flat as he is the guarantor and he is planning on obtaining a key from the estate agents where we rent the property from. Does he have any right to do this? I am going to ring the estate agents in the morning to ask them not to release a key to him but I need some peace of mind tonight Thanks

• Answer:

  No rights whatsoever!! Being a guarantor means being financial liable in case you run off leaving rent or damages and can't be found - it does not give him any rights to the flat, the tenancy contract or anything else. The only person in charge of that place is you - even though the landlord/estate agent can come round for inspections etc, they still have to give you 24hours notice as it is your home and you have the legal right to live there in peace. Not only should you ring the estate agents but also the police, tell them that nothing has happened yet but you know what he is capable of and he has made threats. Even if you don't want them to do anything yet, it's best that they know the back story in case anything does happen. And when you say "I'm scared to let him in when I'm alone" - you shouldn't be letting him in at all no matter who's there with you! Keep your home a safe place where he is not welcome - don't let him take over every area of your life.