Rental communities often set strict qualification standards that are difficult for tenants like students with limited credit history to meet. Homebody Guaranty fills in for a personal guarantor or parent co-signer, allowing you to get approved for a lease where you otherwise would not qualify.
Homebody Guaranty for students
Qualify for student housing without a guarantor
No parent or co-signer? Choose Homebody Guaranty in your rental application and apply on your own.
Available at participating student communities. You’ll enroll in your application, not here.
What's a guarantor, and why do you need one?
A guarantor, usually a parent, agrees to pay your rent if you don’t. Many student communities require one because students often don’t have the income or credit to qualify alone. Homebody Guaranty takes its place.
With Homebody Guaranty
Who's involved
Just you.
How you sign up
Choose it in your rental application.
Credit check for this option
No credit check required for Homebody Guaranty, though the rental property will have its own background check requirements when it reviews your lease application. Check with your leasing agent for more information.
Cost
One-time fee plus a monthly charge.
Who's responsible for rent
You.
With a traditional guarantor
Who's involved
You and a qualified adult, like a parent or guardian.
How you sign up
Your guarantor fills out their own rental application in addition to yours and shares financial documents.
Credit check
Usually required for your guarantor.
Cost
No direct fee. Your guarantor must meet the property's leasing criteria.
Who's responsible for rent
You, and your guarantor if you can't pay.
How it works
Enroll right in your rental application
1
Apply at a participating community
Homebody Guaranty is offered at select student communities that lease by the bed. Your property's application will show it if it's available.
2
Choose Homebody Guaranty
Select it where your application asks about a guarantor.
3
Get your decision
Enrollment takes a few clicks, no extra application. Most reviews come back within the day during business hours.
4
Pay with your rent
Your Homebody Guaranty charges are added to your regular rent bill, so there's nothing separate to set up.
Eligibility
Built for students, domestic and international
You can use Homebody Guaranty if you:
Are a student with at least 9 credit hours. Domestic and international students both qualify.
Will be 18 or older at move-in.
Meet your property's general rental criteria, including background and renter history screening.
Are leasing a bed at a student community that leases by the bed and offers Homebody Guaranty.
Your property may ask for proof that you're a student, like a transcript, your class registration, or your current class schedule.
Most student leases are by the bed. If your roommates have guarantors, that covers their leases, not yours.
Cost
What you'll pay
You'll see your exact amounts during your application before you commit.
One-time enrollment fee
Paid once when you enroll. This isn't a security deposit, and it isn't refunded at the end of your lease.
Monthly charge
Based on the unit you choose in your application. It's billed with your rent through your property.
Know before you choose
What Homebody Guaranty is, and what it isn't
What it does
✓ Takes the place of a traditional guarantor on your lease.
✓ Protects the property you’re renting from if lease obligations go unpaid, so it can approve you without a guarantor.
✓ Stays in place for your lease term, even if your student status changes during the lease.
What it doesn't do
- It doesn't pay your rent for you. You're still responsible for your rent and everything in your lease.
- It isn’t renters insurance and doesn’t cover you or your belongings.
- It doesn't cover damage you cause beyond normal wear and tear.
* Missed payments are still your responsibility and can lead to late fees, legal action, or effects on your credit.
renewal
Staying another year or switching units
Renewing your lease
Coverage lasts one lease term. When you renew, you can enroll again if you’re taking at least 9 credit hours, or provide a guarantor.
Transferring to a new unit
Your new lease gets its own Homebody Guaranty enrollment. You won't pay the one-time enrollment fee again for a unit transfer.
Common Questions
Why would I need Homebody Guaranty?
Who can apply for Homebody Guaranty?
Students, domestic or international, who will be 18 or older at move-in, who meet the property's general rental criteria, and who are leasing a bed at a participating student community that leases by the bed.
What is Homebody Guaranty?
Homebody Guaranty is a guarantor alternative for students at participating student communities. Instead of asking a parent or someone else to be your guarantor, you choose Homebody Guaranty in your rental application and pay a one-time enrollment fee plus a monthly charge with your rent.
What is a traditional guarantor?
A guarantor is a third-party, typically a parent or co-signer, who is obligated by law to fulfill your rent obligations in the event of rent default. Many student communities ask for one because students often don't have the income or credit history to qualify on their own. Homebody Guaranty qualifies your lease in place of a traditional guarantor via a guarantor waiver.
What if my student status changes during my lease?
Your Homebody Guaranty stays in place for the rest of your lease. To enroll again at renewal, you'll need to be an active student.
What if I transfer to a different unit?
Your new lease gets its own enrollment. You won't be charged the one-time enrollment fee again for a unit transfer.
What happens when my lease ends?
Homebody Guaranty lasts for your lease term. If you renew, you can enroll again for an eligible renewal or provide a guarantor.
My roommates have guarantors. Do I still need one?
Possibly. Leases are by the bed, so your roommates' guarantors cover their leases, not yours. If you don't qualify on your own, you'll still need a guarantor or Homebody Guaranty.
Is this renters insurance?
No. Homebody Guaranty protects the property you're renting from in the event of non-payment, not you or your belongings. It doesn't replace renters insurance.
Is there a credit check?
No credit check required for Homebody Guaranty, though the community you’re applying for will have its own background check requirements when it reviews your lease application. Check with your leasing agent for more information.
Is Homebody Guaranty available at every property?
No. It's offered only at participating student communities. Your rental application will show it if your property offers it.
Is Guaranty a security deposit?
No. It isn't a security deposit, and it isn't refunded at the end of your lease.
How much does it cost?
There's a one-time enrollment fee plus a monthly charge based on the unit you choose. Your exact amounts are shown during your application.
How long does it take to get approved?
Approval time varies depending on documents submitted and property response time. Most reviews come back within the day during business hours.
How do I sign up?
Choose Homebody Guaranty in your rental application at a participating community. If you don't qualify on your own, you may also be offered it during screening. You can't enroll from this page.
How do I pay?
Your monthly charge is added to your regular rent bill through your property, so there's no separate account or billing to set up.
Can I add a guarantor later instead?
Contact the property you're renting at to ask about changing your lease.
Am I still responsible for my rent?
Yes. You're still responsible for paying your rent and following your lease. Homebody Guaranty doesn't pay your rent for you or protect you from the consequences of missed payments.
Ready when your application is
Look for Homebody Guaranty when your application asks about a guarantor. Once you move in, use Homebody to pay rent, request repairs, and more.