Best overall: Garantor.nl for expats with no Dutch income history. Best for existing Dutch bank customers: a bank guarantee through ABN AMRO, ING, or Rabobank. Best free option: an employer guarantee letter when your relocation package includes one. Best for freelancers: ZZP Borg. Best for a personal co-signer: a family or personal guarantor with Dutch or EU residency. Five ways to satisfy a landlord's guarantor requirement in 2026, ranked by acceptance rate, cost, and how fast each one moves.
- Garantor.nl is the best guarantor company netherlands rental option overall for expats without Dutch payslips.
- A bank guarantee through ABN AMRO, ING or Rabobank skips third-party fees if you already bank in the Netherlands.
- Employer guarantee letters are free but only exist if your relocation package includes one.
- ZZP Borg fits freelancers who invoice instead of drawing a payslip.
- Most Dutch landlords still expect income of 3 to 4 times the monthly rent when no guarantor is used.
Why this matters
A guarantor requirement is the single biggest reason expats get rejected on Dutch rental applications in 2026, especially before they've built up local payslips or a BSN-linked tax history. Landlords ask for it because Dutch tenancy law makes eviction slow, so they want a financial backstop before handing over keys. If you're applying from abroad, Relocify aggregates listings and lets you review documents with AI assistance so you know which guarantor route fits before you submit anything.
Most of the options below aren't interchangeable. A guarantor company that works for a freelancer won't help a relocating employee with a signed contract, and a family co-signer only works if you actually have Dutch or EU family. Match the option to your situation instead of picking the first one you find on a forum.
What makes the best guarantor company
- Landlord acceptance — whether private landlords and agencies actually recognize the guarantee, not just list it as an option
- Documentation burden — how much proof of income, tax filings, or payslips the option demands
- Cost transparency — whether fees are published or you have to ask
- Speed — how many business days it takes from application to a usable guarantee letter
- Passport flexibility — whether non-EU applicants without a BSN yet can still use it
- Liability — who actually carries the financial risk if rent goes unpaid
At a glance
| Option | Best for | Standout feature | Key limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garantor.nl | Expats without Dutch income history | Works without a Dutch employer | Not every landlord accepts third-party guarantors |
| Bank guarantee | Internationals with a Dutch bank account | No third-party fee on top of your banking | Requires an existing account and usually a BSN |
| Employer guarantee letter | Relocating employees with HR support | Free when your package includes it | Only exists if your contract covers it |
| Family or personal guarantor | Expats with a Dutch/EU co-signer | Costs nothing | Puts real legal liability on your guarantor |
| ZZP Borg | Self-employed or freelance expats | Built around invoice-based income, not payslips | Still requires a minimum trading history |
1. Garantor.nl: best guarantor company for expats with no Dutch income history
Garantor.nl issues a guarantee letter directly to the landlord on your behalf when you can't show a Dutch employment contract or three months of local payslips. It's built specifically for internationals, which is why it shows up first on nearly every expat forum thread about this problem in 2026.
Garantor.nl pros:
- Works without a Dutch employer or existing bank history
- Can be started before you land in the Netherlands
- Accepted by many private landlords and rental agencies
- Covers cases where an employer letter or family guarantor isn't available
Garantor.nl cons:
- Charges a fee tied to your rent level — confirm the current rate directly on their site
- Some housing corporations and larger agencies still decline third-party guarantors
- You'll still need to show some proof of income or savings to get approved
Garantor.nl pricing: fee scales with monthly rent; check the current rate before applying.
Best for: expats and internationals with no Dutch payslips or local employment history.
Verdict: Buy — the most flexible starting point if you're applying from abroad in 2026.
2. Bank guarantee: best guarantor option for existing Dutch bank customers
A bank guarantee is where ABN AMRO, ING, or Rabobank issues a formal letter to your landlord promising payment if you default, instead of you handing over a cash deposit. It's a standard Dutch financial product, not an expat-specific workaround, which is part of why landlords trust it immediately.
Bank guarantee pros:
- No third-party fee stacked on top of your existing bank relationship
- Keeps your cash liquid instead of locked in a landlord's deposit account
- Familiar and quickly recognized by Dutch landlords and agencies
Bank guarantee cons:
- Requires you to already have a Dutch bank account, usually tied to a BSN
- Banks may still ask for proof of income or savings before issuing it
- Setup can take longer than an online guarantor service
Best for: internationals who already opened a Dutch bank account but haven't built up local employment history yet.
Verdict: Buy — the cheapest route once your bank account is active.
3. Employer guarantee letter: best free option for relocating employees
When a company relocates you, its HR or mobility team can issue a written guarantee confirming they'll cover rent obligations if needed, sometimes bundled with the relocation contract itself. It costs you nothing and moves fast when HR is already handling your move.
Employer guarantee letter pros:
- Free — no fee to any third party
- Fast when HR already has a relocation process in place
- Trusted by landlords who regularly rent to corporate tenants
Employer guarantee letter cons:
- Only exists if your employment package explicitly includes it
- HR turnaround can be slow if relocation isn't their main job
- Doesn't help freelancers, job-seekers, or self-sponsored movers
Best for: relocating employees with a signed Dutch job offer and HR-backed relocation support.
Verdict: Buy — ask HR before paying for anything else.
4. Family or personal guarantor: best no-cost option with a co-signer
A friend or family member with Dutch or EU residency and provable income — typically 3 to 4 times the monthly rent — can sign as your personal guarantor. It's the traditional method Dutch landlords have used for decades, before any of the newer guarantor companies existed.
Family or personal guarantor pros:
- Free — no processing fee to anyone
- Personal relationship makes negotiating terms easier
- Accepted almost everywhere, including strict housing corporations
Family or personal guarantor cons:
- Your guarantor takes on real legal and financial liability
- They'll need to submit payslips or tax returns just like a tenant would
- Not an option if you have no Dutch or EU-based contacts
Best for: expats with a Dutch or EU family member willing to formally co-sign.
Verdict: Hold — only use it if your guarantor fully understands what they're on the hook for.
5. ZZP Borg: best guarantor company for self-employed and freelance expats
ZZP Borg is built around freelance income patterns — it works from tax filings and invoices instead of the three payslips most guarantor checks demand. If you're running your own Dutch business or invoicing as a contractor, this is the option designed for that exact gap.
ZZP Borg pros:
- Built specifically around invoice-based and self-employed income
- Faster than trying to convince a landlord to accept irregular income directly
- Works for expats operating their own registered Dutch business
ZZP Borg cons:
- Fee-based, like other third-party guarantor services
- Usually requires a minimum trading history before approval
- Coverage limits vary depending on rent level
Best for: self-employed or freelance expats without regular payroll income.
Verdict: Buy — the practical fix if you invoice instead of getting a payslip.
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How we ranked these
Each option is scored against the same six criteria: landlord acceptance, documentation burden, cost transparency, speed, passport flexibility, and who carries the liability if something goes wrong. Garantor.nl ranks first because it's the only option here that works for someone with zero Dutch financial footprint. The others rank by how narrow their eligibility window is — a bank guarantee needs an account, an employer letter needs a job offer, a family guarantor needs a co-signer, and ZZP Borg needs freelance income.
Which guarantor option should you choose?
If you're moving to the Netherlands in 2026 with no Dutch employer and no local bank account yet, start with Garantor.nl — it's the only route on this list that doesn't require something you don't have yet. If your company is relocating you, ask HR about an employer guarantee letter before paying anyone. If you already opened a Dutch bank account, a bank guarantee is usually the cheapest path once your account is active. Freelancers should go straight to ZZP Borg instead of trying to force a payslip-based application through.
Non-EU passport holders face an extra layer here since some guarantor products expect a BSN before approval — the non-EU passport rental guide walks through the order to handle that. And if you haven't registered for a BSN yet, get a BSN before renting covers what to line up first.
FAQ
What is a guarantor company for renting in the Netherlands?
A guarantor company issues a letter to your landlord promising to cover rent if you default, standing in for a Dutch employer, bank, or family co-signer. Garantor.nl and ZZP Borg are two examples built specifically for expats and freelancers who lack local income history.
Is a guarantor always required to rent in the Netherlands?
No — landlords typically only require one when your income doesn't clearly meet their threshold, usually 3 to 4 times the monthly rent. Tenants with a strong Dutch payslip history often skip the guarantor requirement entirely.
How much income do I need to rent without a guarantor?
Most Dutch landlords and agencies want gross monthly income of 3 to 4 times the rent in 2026. Fall short of that and you'll need a guarantor, bank guarantee, or co-signer instead.
Is Garantor.nl legit for expats?
Garantor.nl is a Netherlands-based guarantor service built for internationals without Dutch payslips, and it's commonly referenced across expat housing forums. Acceptance still depends on the individual landlord, so confirm with the agency before paying any fee.
Can I use a bank guarantee instead of a cash deposit?
Yes — ABN AMRO, ING, and Rabobank can each issue a bank guarantee that replaces a cash deposit, provided you already hold an account with them. It keeps your cash free instead of tied up with the landlord for the length of the lease.
Do freelancers need a different type of guarantor?
Yes — freelancers and self-employed expats often can't show three payslips, so a service like ZZP Borg that works from tax filings and invoices fits better than a standard employer-based guarantee.
How much does a guarantor company cost in the Netherlands?
Fees vary by provider and scale with your monthly rent, so there's no single fixed price across Garantor.nl or ZZP Borg. Confirm the current rate directly with the provider before applying.
Can non-EU passport holders use a guarantor company?
Most guarantor companies accept non-EU applicants, but some ask for a BSN before finalizing the guarantee letter. Sort out your BSN registration in parallel with your guarantor application to avoid delays.
One last thing
Some student housing providers skip the guarantor requirement entirely if you can show proof of enrollment, which is worth checking before you pay any guarantor company a fee. If you're moving for a program in Delft, Wageningen, or Groningen in 2026, check the student housing options in that city first — you may not need a guarantor at all.
