International renters
Can my parents in another country be my guarantor?
Updated By the Housing Rocket moderators
Short answer
Sometimes, but most US landlords and large management companies require a guarantor who lives in the US and has US income and credit they can check. Smaller private landlords are more flexible and may accept parents abroad with translated bank statements and an employment letter, so ask before you apply.
Landlords want a guarantor they could realistically take to a US court if rent goes unpaid. A parent overseas is hard to screen and harder to collect from, which is why many application systems simply reject foreign addresses.
Guarantors are also expected to earn much more than a tenant. Many landlords want a guarantor's income to be several times the rent, and in New York a common rule of thumb is annual income of around 80 times the monthly rent. Your parents' income will be judged after conversion to US dollars.
- Ask the landlord in writing whether a non-US guarantor is accepted and what they need.
- If yes, prepare bank statements and an employment or income letter, translated into English, with amounts shown in both currencies.
- Have your parents sign the guarantee electronically if possible, since printing, signing and couriering from abroad adds a week.
- If no, ask about a guarantor service, a relative or family friend living in the US, or a larger deposit.
Whatever you arrange, make sure your parents understand they are promising to pay the full lease if you do not, not just one month.
Want the whole picture? Read Renting as an International Student.