Engineer Andy's Journal: perils of acting as guarantor

A housemate moved out last weekend. Did so quickly to move into a new place. The landlord wanted assurance that the last couple of weeks rent would be paid so i said that i'd pass on the money and if the guy was a day or so late, i'd cover it til then.

Big mistake.

The guy left his room a bit messy as he was intending to come back during the weeks rent of notice and tidy up then. The landlord found a new chap to move in tomorrow, and wants the room "bond inspection" tidy. The housemate doesn't want to pay rent if someone else is in the room already, and the landlord is at the end of their tether after the guy habitually paid his rent late to them. Mention of lawyers was made.

Sigh. I really didn't care much, except that i didn't want to have to carry that rent if the guy didn't pay me, and as a man of honour I paid the landlord.

Lesson for the day = don't guarantor for anyone who isn't a blood relative. It may end tidily or it may end messily, but only family will owe you enough loyalty to not leave you carrying the can if it goes bad.