Guarantors become a bigger renting hurdle
Thursday 3rd September, 2026
New research suggests Renters’ Rights Act changes are prompting more landlords to request guarantors, potentially shutting out tenants without family or friends to help.
This gives Rightmove a natural chance to talk about making the UK rental search clearer and more accessible for people facing guarantor barriers.
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Why have we flagged this?
The Renters’ Rights Act is changing how landlords assess tenants, giving Rightmove an opportunity to share rental demand, affordability and guarantor-related search data to explain its market impact.
Get reactive idea inspiration
Thinking...
These are starting points for inspiration, not finished ideas.
Expert comment
Challenge guarantors becoming a hidden affordability test
Argue that restricting rent in advance must not simply replace one barrier with another for renters without family wealth.
Expert comment angle: Have Rightmove’s housing expert tell consumer property journalists that landlords should assess affordability fairly, while offering clear alternatives for renters without guarantors.
Why: It gives the story a distinctive consumer-interest angle beyond repeating the research findings.
Data idea
Reveal the rise in guarantor-related property searches
Show whether renters are increasingly searching for information about guarantors as the new rules take effect.
Data to investigate: Analyse your site search data to compare searches containing ‘guarantor’ before and after the Renters’ Rights Act coverage.
Why: A simple, proprietary measure could show how the policy is changing renter behaviour in real time.
Newsjack
Create a plain-English guide for renters without guarantors
Publish a practical guide explaining what renters can do if they fail an income check or cannot provide a guarantor.
Newsjack angle: Create the guide within days and offer it to consumer finance, housing and regional press as a useful response to the new rules.
Why: It turns a confusing policy change into practical help for a large group of renters who may otherwise stop searching.