Guarantors
NYC Guarantor Guide
Published by Nessoo.com. Last updated .
Direct answer
A guarantor is a person who is legally obligated to pay your rent if you cannot. Many NYC landlords ask a guarantor to earn 80 times the monthly rent, so a $2,500 apartment needs a guarantor earning $200,000 a year. Guarantors generally live in New York State, and each landlord decides whether to accept one. (StreetEasy)
Who uses a guarantor
Renters whose income is under the landlord's ratio. The common ratio is 40x the monthly rent. A guarantor can help the application meet it. (StreetEasy) See the income-to-rent calculator and the 40x rule.
How much does a guarantor need to earn in NYC?
| Requirement | What sources report |
|---|---|
| Income | Often 80 times the monthly rent. $2,500 rent needs $200,000. (StreetEasy) |
| Location | Generally lives in New York State, so the landlord can collect if needed. Not a requirement everywhere. (StreetEasy) |
| Paperwork | Recent pay stubs and often one to two years of tax returns. The landlord or guarantor company may also run its own credit check on the guarantor as part of its own process. (CityRealty) |
| Number allowed | Some owners combine more than one guarantor. Many accept only one. (StreetEasy, CityRealty) |
| Monthly rent | Guarantor income at 80x |
|---|---|
| $2,000 | $160,000 |
| $2,500 | $200,000 |
| $3,000 | $240,000 |
| $3,500 | $280,000 |
| $4,000 | $320,000 |
Roommates: if you pay half of the rent, some owners will combine the incomes of more than one guarantor. Ask the building. (CityRealty)
Can I use a guarantor company?
If you do not have someone to act as guarantor, companies offer guarantor services. The landlord has to accept them. Check with the landlord first. (StreetEasy)
Before you pay one:
- Ask the landlord in writing which services they accept.
- Get the cost and terms in writing.
- Ask what the service needs from you and how it stores it.
Questions to ask the landlord
- Do you accept a guarantor?
- What income do you require from the guarantor, as a multiple of rent?
- Can the guarantor live outside New York State?
- Do you accept more than one guarantor?
- Do you accept third-party guarantor services?
- What documents does the guarantor send, and through what portal?
- Does the guarantee continue if the lease renews?
Other options
- Ask the landlord what other documents they review. StreetEasy reports that sharing savings account statements can help.
- Add a roommate who meets the ratio for their share.
- Try buildings with different policies.
Where nessoo.com fits
If you are comparing paths, one step is proving your own identity, income and assets.
Nessoo verifies renters' identity, income and assets.
Common questions
What is a guarantor on a NYC lease?
Someone legally obligated to pay your rent if you cannot. (StreetEasy)
How much does a guarantor need to earn?
Many landlords ask for 80 times the monthly rent. Some ask for 75x to 90x. (StreetEasy, CityRealty, Brick Underground)
Does a guarantor have to live in New York?
Often New York State or the tri-state area, so the landlord can collect if needed. Ask each landlord. (StreetEasy, Brick Underground)
Can my guarantor live outside the US?
Many buildings accept only US-based guarantors. One NYC manager, for example, requires personal guarantors to live in the US. (Stellar Management rental guide) Ask whether the building accepts a guarantor company instead.
Can I use more than one guarantor?
Some owners allow it. Many accept only one. (CityRealty)
Can my roommate and I use the same guarantor?
Usually yes. One guarantor is typically enough for roommates, but some landlords require one per applicant. (Brick Underground)
Is a guarantor responsible for the whole lease?
Often yes. Brick Underground notes that when roommates each use a guarantor, both guarantors are still jointly liable for the entire lease. (Brick Underground)
What does a guarantor have to send?
Typically recent pay stubs and one to two years of tax returns. The landlord or guarantor company may also ask for information for its own credit check. That is their process. (CityRealty)
How much does a guarantor company cost?
It varies by company and by renter. Brick Underground reported one company's fee at 65 to 90 percent of one month's rent for US citizens. Get the quote in writing. (Brick Underground)
Does the guarantee continue if I renew the lease?
Ask before you sign. Check the guaranty form for renewal terms.
Sources
- StreetEasy, budgeting for an NYC rentalChecked 2026-10-27
- StreetEasy, guarantor explainerChecked 2026-10-27
- CityRealty, when and how to use a guarantorChecked 2026-10-27
- NYC Commission on Human Rights, best practices for housing providers (source of income FAQ, March 2023)Checked 2026-10-27
- NYC Commission on Human Rights, source of income discriminationChecked 2026-10-27
- Brick Underground, minimum income and negotiatingChecked 2026-10-27
- Brick Underground, one guarantor for roommatesChecked 2026-10-27
- Stellar Management, rental guideChecked 2026-10-27