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How Much Does a Lease Guarantor Cost in Texas?

To figure out what a lease guarantor costs in Texas, get a quote for the lease you plan to sign and ask what it covers. Add that fee to your other move-in costs. Then ask what renewal costs, how canceling works, and whether you'd owe the company money if it ever pays your landlord for you.

Renter adding up the cost to move in, with a calculator and notes

The short answer

Expect a one time fee of about 70% to 110% of one month’s rent, and it doesn’t come back. Each guarantor company prices your lease on its own, so get the actual quote before you count on a number.

We’re the No Credit Check Apartment Team, a licensed real estate team brokered by Spirit Real Estate Group, LLC (TREC #562021). Between us we have more than 20 years in real estate, working with property managers across Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Austin and San Antonio. We point renters with credit, eviction and record problems to communities whose criteria may fit them, and each property makes its own rental decision.

Example on $1,500 rent: guarantor fee of $1,050 to $1,650, plus a $1,500 deposit and first month, comes to $4,050 to $4,650

What that means for you

The fee comes on top of your deposit and first month’s rent, not in place of them.

On $1,500 a month with a one month deposit, the fee, deposit and first month come to about $4,050 to $4,650. That’s before application and admin fees. A bigger deposit can cost about as much upfront, but you get most of it back. A qualified cosigner adds nothing to the bill.

How Texas communities handle it

Texas property managers screen through a handful of companies, including TransUnion SmartMove, RealPage LeasingDesk, and AppFolio. Some check rent payment data from Experian RentBureau, and old apartment balances often show up through collection agencies like NCAC. Each one pulls up different information, and each management company reads it differently.

A denied application usually costs $50 to $75, and those fees stack up fast when you apply without knowing how a property screens.

For how guarantor companies work, see our guarantor and cosigner help or the related guides below.

Renter signing lease paperwork at a leasing office desk

What to do next

Don't know where to apply, or tired of paying fees just to get turned down? Don’t guess. Send us your situation and we’ll point you to Texas communities worth a look. It’s free to you; communities pay our referral fee out of their advertising budgets.

Related reading: guarantor and cosigner help · guarantor vs. deposit vs. cosigner

FAQ

How much does a guarantor cost? +

Usually 70% to 110% of one month's rent, or roughly 6% to 9% of a year's rent. On a $1,500 apartment, that's about $1,050 to $1,650.

Is the guarantor fee refundable? +

Not once you're covered. It's a one time fee for the guarantee, separate from your deposit. If the lease falls through before you move in, TheGuarantors refunds the fee minus a $100 cancellation fee, once the landlord confirms in writing. Other providers have their own refund rules.

Is a guarantor cheaper than a bigger deposit? +

Upfront, sometimes, if the community offers a bigger deposit option. Over a full lease, usually not. You get an extra deposit back when you move out, minus any damage or unpaid rent. A guarantor fee never comes back.

Related guides

What Is a Third-Party Guarantor and How Does It Work?

A guarantor company cosigns your lease for a fee. Here's how their approval check works, which Texas providers you'll see (such as TheGuarantors and OneApp), and the limits.

Want us to look at your situation?

Send us your screening issue and target city. We typically get back to you the same day to go over your form, and your community list usually takes 24 to 48 weekday hours. Weekend requests most likely hear from us Monday. Free.

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