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    Free co-signer agreement for a rental lease

    A co-signer agreement for rent (also called a lease guaranty or guarantor agreement) is a separate written promise in which someone who will not live at the property agrees to pay the tenant's rent, and usually the tenant's other lease obligations, if the tenant doesn't. It should name the lease it backs, say exactly what the co-signer covers, whether there is a dollar cap, and whether it lasts past the first lease term. Fill in the form below to get a ready-to-sign guaranty, or download the blank version to complete by hand.

    Last reviewed: · by MakeLease Editorial Team

    Co-Signer Agreement generator

    The lease

    Usually the date the guarantor signs.

    Everyone on the lease whose obligations the co-signer is backing.

    Leave blank for a month-to-month lease.

    $

    Co-signer

    Terms of the guaranty

    The co-signer backs everything the tenant owes under the lease, not just rent.

    $

    Leave blank for no dollar cap. A cap such as 6 or 12 months of rent can make it easier to find a willing co-signer.

    Ends with the original term. If the lease is renewed, ask the co-signer to sign a new agreement.

    Recommended. It gives the co-signer a chance to step in before the debt grows.

    Signing

    Optional. Some landlords prefer a notarized guaranty, especially when the co-signer lives out of state.

    Blank PDF

    Free, no account needed. Showing example details. Replace them with yours.

    Lease Guaranty

    Co-Signer Agreement

    This Lease Guaranty (the “Guaranty”) is made on November 15, 2026 by Taylor Brooks (“Guarantor”) for the benefit of Morgan Rivera (“Landlord”). Guarantor signs this Guaranty to induce Landlord to rent the property at 123 Maple Street, Unit 4, Springfield (the “Property”) to Jordan Ellis (“Tenant”) under the lease dated November 15, 2026 (the “Lease”). Guarantor understands that Landlord is relying on this Guaranty in entering into the Lease.

    1. The lease

    Lease term starts:December 1, 2026
    Lease term ends:November 30, 2027
    Monthly rent:$1,850
    Lease dated:November 15, 2026

    2. Guarantor's contact information

    Name:Taylor Brooks
    Mailing address:48 Birch Lane, Riverton
    Phone:(555) 014-2233
    Email:taylor.brooks@example.com

    3. What Guarantor guarantees

    Guarantor guarantees that Tenant will pay and perform all of Tenant's obligations under the Lease when due, including rent, late fees and other charges the Lease allows, and the cost of repairing damage to the Property beyond normal wear and tear, to the extent Tenant owes those amounts under the Lease and applicable law.

    If Tenant does not pay or perform a guaranteed obligation when due, Guarantor will pay or perform it within 10 days after Landlord's written demand. Landlord does not have to sue Tenant or use the security deposit first. Guarantor is responsible only for amounts Tenant actually owes under the Lease, and any payment by Tenant or Guarantor reduces what is owed.

    4. Limit on Guarantor's liability

    Guarantor's total liability under this Guaranty will not exceed $22,200, no matter how much Tenant owes.

    5. How long this Guaranty lasts

    This Guaranty covers the original term of the Lease only. It does not cover any renewal, extension or new lease, or any month-to-month tenancy after the original term ends, unless Guarantor signs a new guaranty or agrees in writing. Guarantor stays responsible for obligations that arose during the original term even if Landlord asks for payment after the term ends, such as unpaid rent or move-out damage.

    6. Copy of default notices

    If Landlord gives Tenant a written notice of nonpayment or other default under the Lease, Landlord will send a copy to Guarantor at the mailing address or email above at about the same time.

    7. Guarantor's acknowledgments

    • Guarantor has received and read a copy of the Lease, which is attached to this Guaranty.
    • Guarantor is not a tenant under the Lease and has no right to live at or occupy the Property because of this Guaranty.
    • Landlord and Tenant may not increase Guarantor's obligations by changing the Lease without Guarantor's written consent.
    • Guarantor will tell Landlord in writing if Guarantor's mailing address or email changes.
    • Guarantor signs this Guaranty voluntarily and has had the opportunity to ask questions or get advice before signing.

    8. Signatures

    By signing below, Guarantor agrees to this Guaranty and Landlord accepts it. Each party should keep a signed copy with the Lease.

    Guarantor (co-signer) signature (Taylor Brooks)
    Date
    Landlord signature (Morgan Rivera)
    Date

    Made free at make.lease/forms/cosigner-agreement

    What to include in a co-signer agreement

    • The lease it backs. The lease date, landlord, every tenant, the property address, the term and the monthly rent, so there is no question which obligations the co-signer is guaranteeing.
    • The co-signer's contact details. Full legal name, mailing address, phone and email. You will need them to send a demand or a copy of a default notice.
    • What is covered. Either everything the tenant owes under the lease (rent, fees and damage) or rent only. Say which in plain words.
    • Any cap on the co-signer's liability. A fixed dollar limit, or a clear statement that there is no dollar cap.
    • How long it lasts. The original term only, or the original term plus renewals and extensions. Ambiguity here is the most common source of co-signer disputes.
    • Notice to the co-signer. A promise to copy the co-signer on any default notice, so they hear about a problem early.
    • An acknowledgment that the co-signer read the lease, with a copy attached, and that the co-signer gets no right to live at the property.
    • Signatures from the co-signer and the landlord, with dates, plus an optional notary block.

    Does a co-signer agreement have to be in writing?

    Put it in writing in every case. A co-signer is promising to pay someone else's debt, and in many states that kind of promise falls under the statute of frauds, which requires a signed writing. For example:

    • New York: a "special promise to answer for the debt, default or miscarriage of another person" is void unless it, or a note or memorandum of it, is in writing and signed by the person making the promise (N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 5-701(a)(2)).
    • Florida: no lawsuit can be brought on a special promise to answer for the debt, default or miscarriage of another person unless the promise, or a note or memorandum of it, is in writing and signed by the person being charged (Fla. Stat. § 725.01).

    Other states have their own versions and their own exceptions, so don't rely on a verbal promise anywhere. The practical rule is simple: the co-signer signs this agreement, ideally before the tenant gets the keys, and you keep the original with the lease.

    There is no notice period to give, because this is an agreement, not a notice. If you want a co-signer to back a lease that is already running, or to cover a renewal under an original-term-only guaranty, have them sign a new agreement.

    Co-signer vs. co-tenant

    A co-signer guarantees the lease from the outside. A co-tenant signs the lease itself and lives at the property. Mixing the two up causes problems, so pick the right one.

    Co-signer (guarantor)Co-tenant
    SignsThis separate guarantyThe lease
    Lives at the propertyNo, and gets no right to move inYes
    PaysOnly if the tenant doesn't, within the scope and any cap in the guarantyShares the rent and lease obligations as the lease says
    Typical useA parent backing a student or first-time renterRoommates or partners living together

    Worked example

    Jordan rents a unit for $1,850 a month on a 12-month lease, and Jordan's aunt Taylor co-signs with "all obligations" coverage and a $22,200 cap (12 months of rent). Jordan misses two months, and the move-out inspection finds $600 of damage beyond normal wear and tear. After applying the $1,200 security deposit, Jordan still owes $3,100. You send Jordan a written notice, copy Taylor as the guaranty requires, and then make a written demand on Taylor. Taylor owes the $3,100, well under the cap. If Taylor had signed a "rent only" guaranty, Taylor would owe only unpaid rent, and you would pursue the damage from Jordan.

    About renewals: under the "original term only" choice, Taylor's guaranty ends with the first 12-month term, though Taylor still owes anything that came due during it. If Jordan renews or goes month-to-month, ask Taylor to sign a new agreement. Under the "renewals" choice, the guaranty carries over, and Taylor can opt out of future renewals by telling you in writing before the next one starts.

    What a landlord should check

    • Income and credit, with written consent. Have the co-signer complete their own application and sign an authorization before you pull a credit or background report. The Fair Credit Reporting Act lets a consumer reporting agency furnish a report "in accordance with the written instructions of the consumer to whom it relates" (15 U.S.C. § 1681b(a)(2)). The free rental application form includes a screening authorization the co-signer can sign.
    • Ability to pay both. Many landlords look for co-signer income that covers the co-signer's own housing plus this rent. Write your standard down before you apply it.
    • Apply the same rule to everyone. Decide in advance when you will require or accept a co-signer (for example, when an applicant's income or credit falls short of your written criteria) and apply it consistently. The Fair Housing Act makes it unlawful to discriminate against any person "in the terms, conditions, or privileges of sale or rental of a dwelling" because of race, color, religion, sex, familial status or national origin (42 U.S.C. § 3604(b)). Demanding a co-signer from some applicants and not others with the same qualifications invites that problem. State and local laws may add protected classes, such as source of income.
    • Identity and contact details. Confirm the name and address match their ID and application, since that is where demands and notices will go.
    • Out-of-state co-signers. Collecting from someone in another state can mean suing there, and states differ on how guaranties are read. If a lot of money rides on the guaranty, get local legal advice on the wording.

    Signing tips

    • Sign before move-in. Have the co-signer sign at the same time as the lease, or before you hand over the keys, so the guaranty is clearly part of the deal.
    • Attach the lease. Give the co-signer a full copy of the signed lease and staple it to the guaranty. The co-signer's acknowledgment says they have read it.
    • Use the full legal name. Sign with the same name that appears on the co-signer's ID and application, and date every signature.
    • Notarize if you want extra proof. It is optional, but a notarized signature is harder to dispute, which helps when the co-signer signs remotely.
    • Keep everyone's copy. Give the co-signer a signed copy, and keep the original with the lease, the co-signer's application and their screening authorization.
    • Need the lease too? Build it with the free lease agreement generator, or browse the other free landlord forms.

    Frequently asked questions

    What is a co-signer agreement for rent?

    It is a lease guaranty: a separate agreement in which a co-signer (also called a guarantor) promises the landlord to pay the tenant's rent, and usually the tenant's other lease obligations, if the tenant does not. The co-signer does not live at the property and is not a tenant.

    Does a co-signer agreement have to be in writing?

    In many states, yes. A promise to pay someone else's debt falls under the statute of frauds in many states. For example, New York General Obligations Law section 5-701(a)(2) makes such a promise void unless it is in writing and signed by the person making it, and Florida Statutes section 725.01 bars a lawsuit on it unless it is in writing and signed. Put it in writing and have the co-signer sign it wherever you are.

    Is a co-signer responsible if the lease is renewed?

    Read what the guaranty says about renewals; with this form, it depends on the option you choose. With the original-term option the guaranty ends with the first lease term, and you need a new signed agreement to cover a renewal. With the renewals option it also covers renewals and extensions, and the co-signer can opt out of future renewals in writing before they take effect.

    Can I cap how much the co-signer owes?

    Yes. Enter a dollar cap, such as 6 or 12 months of rent, and the agreement says the co-signer's total liability will not exceed it. Leave the field blank and the agreement states there is no dollar cap, so the co-signer is responsible for whatever the tenant owes within the chosen scope.

    Does a co-signer agreement need to be notarized?

    This form does not require it, but some landlords prefer a notarized guaranty, especially when the co-signer signs in another city or state. Tick the notary option to add an acknowledgment block, and let the notary attach their own state's certificate if the wording differs.

    Can I run a credit check on the co-signer?

    Get the co-signer's signed written authorization first. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, a screening company may provide a consumer report in line with the written instructions of the person it is about. Apply the same co-signer income and credit standards to every applicant.

    Sources

    Sources last checked 2026-10-27.

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