In France, several types of guarantors can be requested when renting. The most common remains the physical guarantor, generally a parent or relative, who undertakes to pay the rent in the event of non-payment, a decisive lever for securing a file.
When it provides financial reassurance, it facilitates access to housing. There is also the moral guarantor (company, association or banking establishment) whose use remains marginal, as well as guarantee organizations, public or private.
When the State replaces the guarantor
The Visale guarantee, offered free of charge by Action Logement, allows the State to act as guarantor for the tenant in the event of unpaid debts. Free, it is mainly aimed at people under 30, whether they are students, work-study students or young professionals. Those over 30 can also qualify under conditions, in particular being employees in the private sector and having six months of seniority in their job. Since 2026, the system covers unpaid rent and charges for a maximum period of 36 months, within the limit of a variable rent ceiling depending on location, which can go up to around 1,500 euros in certain areas.
The guarantee can also cover rental damage and be renewed subject to eligibility conditions. It differs from other solutions such as the bank guarantee, which requires the payment of a sum blocked in a dedicated account, accompanied by account maintenance fees which can reach several hundred euros per year. “Without a physical guarantor, I used the Visale guarantee. I got confirmation in less than a week, with a rent ceiling set at 1,050 euros per month. I integrated the system directly into my file, which the owner already knew and which she considered equivalent to a guarantor», testifies Élise, 27 years old, employee in the private sector.
Alternatives still unevenly accepted
In addition, private organizations offer to replace the physical guarantor in return for an annual contribution payable by the tenant, generally between 3% and 5% of the annual rent. Players like Garantme, Unkle or SmartGarant target in particular freelancers, independents or employees in trial periods, whose income is considered more difficult to assess. Their acceptance, however, depends strongly on the framework chosen by the owner.
In practice, certain guarantees may be refused despite a solid file, due to their incompatibility with the unpaid rent insurance sometimes taken out by the lessor. The physical guarantor is therefore no longer absolutely essential. Alternatives exist and may be enough to secure a rental. But in a tense market, it often remains a decisive advantage over competing files.
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