UK Landlord Forum / Life

I wonder if anyone can give me some advice.  When a relatiionship broke down I paid the bond on a flat for her and acted as guarntor so she could have somewhere to live with her children.  This was over 3 years ago and I have had no contact with her since that time.  I have received a phone call from the letting agent to say that she has moved out and left the flat in a mess and that as I am the guarantor it is up to me to pay for things to be put right.  I am not sure whether they company have refunded the original £500 I paid for the bond but if so, should she not use this to pay for the damages.  I am not in a positiion to pay out any monies for repairs etc.

You acted as guarantor with your eyes open.

You are now expected to live up to the responsibilities of that.

If you are not in a position to pay out any monies I would be curious how you were considered a suitable guarantor (assets?)... but the fact is that you previously agreed to be this person's guarantor and, by doing that, you agreed to service their debts in relation to this tenancy.

I'm genuinely not sure how much clearer this situation could be... unless you tell us something different?

Repairing damages, and even a bad mess, could easily consume the entirety of a £500 deposit... and more. What is the Letting Agent saying the amount is?

I know this but I genuinely believed the property would be looked after.  this is the first time I have been involved in any kind of rental situationn and in hindsight I probably should have had my name removed as guarntor.  I am not sure how I was considered as a guarantor.  I have my own proprerty on which I pay a mortgage. Maybe this was considered as assets.   I know I was naive but at the time you feel you are doing the right thing by helping out.  The letting agency has not specified the costs yet.  They have only rung to say the flat is in a mess, carpets etc. 

Absolutely, you did what you felt was the right thing. No criticism there. However, it may be a kindness that now bites you back. You are the guarantor and there's not much you can do about that. The reason for guarantors existing is to pay off the debts of people who can't or won't. Best of luck.