Guarantor & Co-signer Guide
International and first-year students in Waterloo are often asked for a Canadian co-signer. Here is what that means and what your options are.
Pattern-based guidance for Waterloo students — not legal advice. For disputes about discrimination or lease terms, contact WUSA Student Legal Protection.
What is a guarantor?
- •A guarantor (co-signer) is someone who agrees to pay your rent if you do not — usually a parent or relative with Canadian credit history.
- •They are not a roommate and typically do not live in the unit.
- •The guarantor signs a separate guarantee agreement or is named on the lease as a co-signer, depending on what the landlord requests.
- •If you default, the landlord can pursue the guarantor for unpaid rent — this is a serious commitment for whoever signs.
Can landlords require one in Ontario?
- •Landlords can screen tenants and often require proof of income or credit — especially for students without Canadian credit history.
- •Requiring a Canadian co-signer is common in Waterloo student housing, though not every landlord insists on one.
- •Landlords generally cannot discriminate based on protected grounds under the Human Rights Code, but credit and income requirements are standard screening tools.
- •If you are refused only because you are an international student with no Canadian credit, ask if alternatives exist before assuming you are out of options.
What if you cannot find a co-signer?
- •Ask if the landlord accepts prepaid rent (several months upfront) — some student landlords will, though this ties up your money.
- •Offer proof of savings, a scholarship letter, or a co-op employment offer with salary details.
- •Some large management companies (e.g. Northview, Domus) have their own application processes and may be more flexible than private landlords.
- •Third-party rent-guarantee services exist in some markets (availability and landlord acceptance in Ontario varies — confirm before paying any service fee).
- •Consider applying with roommates who already have local credit, if the landlord allows joint tenancy.
Waterloo-specific tips
- •Places4Students listings from verified landlords may have clearer application requirements upfront.
- •Co-op students: some landlords prefer tenants with a full 12-month plan; explain your co-op cycle and offer a larger subletter pool as reassurance.
- •Never pay an application fee or "holding deposit" before you have a signed lease — application fees are not standard in Ontario rentals.
- •If a landlord asks for your guarantor's SIN or banking password, that is not normal — only share what a standard rental application requires.
Free legal help for UW students: WUSA Student Legal Protection →