Can You Be a Guarantor With an IVA?

Can You Be a Guarantor if You Have an IVA?

In practice, rarely. Lenders and landlords will see your IVA, and taking on a new guarantee can clash with your IVA terms.

Last updated: November 2026

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Things to know about IVAs

An IVA is a formal insolvency procedure. It must be approved by your creditors, stays on your credit file for six years, fees are taken from your payments, and debts are only written off if you complete it. It isn’t right for everyone.

Read the key risks

Creditors must approve it. An IVA only goes ahead if creditors holding at least 75% of the debt that is voted agree. Your proposal can be rejected.
Credit file and public register. An IVA stays on your credit file for six years from the start date and is listed on the public Individual Insolvency Register while it runs. Getting credit will be harder.
Spending restrictions and annual reviews. You live on an agreed budget for the length of the IVA (usually 5–6 years). Your income and spending are reviewed each year, and your payment can go up.
Fees. Fees are taken from your monthly payments, so less of what you pay reaches your creditors. How IVA fees work.
Your home. Under the current IVA Protocol, your home isn’t included in the IVA and you won’t be asked to remortgage. If your share of the equity is £10,000 or more, the IVA usually lasts six years instead of five.
If it fails. If you can’t keep up payments the IVA may fail, you would owe the remaining debt again, and the supervisor may petition for your bankruptcy.
Write-off only on completion. Remaining qualifying unsecured debts are only written off if the IVA is completed successfully. Secured debts, court fines, child maintenance, student loans and some other debts can’t be included.
Other options may suit you better. A debt management plan, DRO or bankruptcy may be more suitable. IVAs are available in England, Wales and Northern Ireland only; different solutions apply in Scotland.

A family member or friend may ask you to act as guarantor for a loan, mortgage or tenancy. If you’re in an IVA, the honest answer is that it’s very unlikely to be accepted, and it could cause problems with your own arrangement.

The short answer

Most lenders and landlords won’t accept a guarantor who is in an IVA.
Your IVA shows on your credit file and the public insolvency register.
A guarantee is a new financial commitment. Your IVA terms usually limit new credit.
If you were already a guarantor before your IVA, that liability can usually be included.

Why guarantors in an IVA are usually turned down

A guarantor promises to pay if the main borrower or tenant doesn’t. Lenders and landlords therefore check the guarantor’s finances closely. An IVA is recorded on your credit file for six years and appears on the Individual Insolvency Register while it runs. That is usually enough for an application to be declined.

Could it breach my IVA terms?

Most IVAs limit how much new credit you can take on without your supervisor’s agreement. A guarantee isn’t borrowing in the usual sense, but it is a potential debt. If the borrower defaulted, you could become liable for money you can’t afford, which could put your IVA at risk. Speak to your insolvency practitioner before agreeing to anything.

What if I was a guarantor before my IVA started?

If you guaranteed someone’s borrowing before your IVA and the lender has called on the guarantee, or might in future, that liability can usually be listed as a creditor in your IVA. Tell your insolvency practitioner about any guarantees when your proposal is being prepared.

What are the alternatives?

Some landlords accept rent in advance instead of a guarantor.
Commercial guarantor services exist for tenants, for a fee.
Another family member who isn’t in an insolvency arrangement may be able to act instead.

Common questions

Can I be a guarantor after my IVA ends?

Possibly, but the IVA stays on your credit file for six years from the start date, so some lenders may still decline you until it drops off.

Do I have to tell a lender about my IVA if I apply to be a guarantor?

You shouldn’t hide it. Lenders will usually find it on your credit file, and giving false information on an application can cause serious problems.

Can a guarantor debt be included in an IVA?

Yes, usually. If you’re liable under a guarantee, the lender can be included as a creditor in your IVA like other unsecured debts.

How IVA Advice Online can help

Every situation is different, and an IVA isn’t right for everyone. We can look at your income, spending and debts with you and set out the debt solutions you could qualify for, including options other than an IVA. To talk it through, get in touch.