Last updated: September 2026
A guarantor is someone who co-signs your apartment lease and helps you qualify by providing income and credit information. Because many college students don’t have the income or credit history to qualify for an apartment on their own, using a guarantor is common in student housing. At The Heights College Station, residents must secure their lease by using a qualified guarantor, prepaying two rent installments or enrolling in the LEAP Guarantor Waiver Program.
What is a guarantor? Who can be one? What are they agreeing to when they sign? And what happens if you don’t have someone who qualifies?
At The Heights College Station, our leasing team works with Texas A&M students navigating these questions as they prepare to sign a lease.
In this article, we’ll explain:
- What a guarantor is
- What a guarantor is responsible for
- Why college students commonly need guarantors
- The guarantor requirements at The Heights
- What your options are if you don’t have a guarantor
What is a guarantor on an apartment lease?
A guarantor is a co-signer on your lease who helps you qualify for the apartment by providing income and credit information.
When you sign an apartment lease, you’re entering into a legally binding agreement with your landlord. Among other responsibilities outlined in that agreement, you’re agreeing to make your required rent payments.
Before approving an application, landlords commonly review financial qualifications such as income and credit history to determine whether an applicant meets their rental criteria.
That can create a challenge for college students.
If you’re attending Texas A&M full time, you may not have a full-time income or extensive credit history yet. That doesn’t necessarily prevent you from renting an apartment. Instead, you may be able to qualify with a guarantor.
At The Heights College Station, a guarantor acts as a co-signer and provides income verification to help the resident qualify for the lease.
What is a guarantor responsible for?
Becoming a guarantor is a significant financial commitment, so both you and your potential guarantor should understand the lease before signing it.
A guarantor is agreeing to take on financial responsibility according to the terms of the lease they guarantee.
That means this isn’t simply an emergency contact or a parent giving you permission to rent an apartment. Your guarantor is signing a legal agreement.
Before anyone agrees to serve as your guarantor, they should carefully review the lease and guaranty documents to understand exactly what obligations they are accepting.
If either of you has questions about those responsibilities, ask the property’s leasing team before signing.
Why do college students often need a guarantor?
It’s common for students to need a guarantor because many haven’t had enough time to build the income or credit history required to qualify independently for an apartment.
Think about a typical college student.
You might have a part-time job, internship, financial aid or money saved for housing. Your parents or another family member may also be helping you pay your expenses.
But on paper, you still might not meet an apartment community’s income or credit requirements yourself.
A guarantor provides additional financial qualification that can help you meet the property’s leasing requirements.
This is why you’ll often be asked for information about a guarantor while completing a student apartment application.
For example, when you apply for an apartment at The Heights, the application asks for the name and email address of your guarantor if you plan to use one. Your guarantor then receives a link to complete their portion of the application.
Do I need a guarantor to live at The Heights College Station?
You need to secure your lease, but a traditional guarantor isn’t your only option at The Heights.
Per The Heights’ current leasing requirements, all residents must secure their lease in one of three ways:
- Sign with a qualified guarantor
- Prepay two rent installments, which are applied to the final two months of the lease
- Enroll in the LEAP Guarantor Waiver Program
This gives you alternatives if you don’t have someone who can serve as a traditional guarantor.
What are the guarantor requirements at The Heights?
If you decide to use a guarantor, that person has to meet The Heights’ qualification requirements.
According to The Heights‘ FAQ, a guarantor must:
- Earn three times the monthly installment
- Have a minimum credit score of 600
- Not have filed for bankruptcy within the past seven years
During the application process, you’ll provide your guarantor’s name and email address. They’ll then receive a link to complete their portion of the application.
The Heights currently charges a $99 non-refundable application fee, which includes the screening of one guarantor. You can review The Heights’ current leasing fees and application information here.
Because leasing requirements and fees can change, always confirm the current requirements with the leasing team before applying.
What if I don’t have a guarantor?
Not having a parent, relative or other person who qualifies as a guarantor doesn’t necessarily prevent you from signing a lease at The Heights.
You have other options.
Option 1: Prepay two rent installments
Instead of using a guarantor, The Heights allows residents to prepay two rent installments.
Those payments aren’t an additional two months of rent. According to The Heights’ leasing information, they’re applied to the final two months of your lease term.
The tradeoff is that you need enough money available upfront to make those payments.
Option 2: Use the LEAP Guarantor Waiver Program
The Heights also offers the LEAP Guarantor Waiver Program as another alternative.
If you don’t provide a qualified guarantor or choose the prepayment option, The Heights states that you’ll be enrolled in LEAP.
The current LEAP fee listed by The Heights is $54 per month, which is added to your rent.
For a student who doesn’t have someone who can qualify as a guarantor, this can provide another path to securing the lease.
However, that monthly charge increases your overall housing cost. Be sure to include it when calculating what you’ll actually spend to live at the property.
What if I’m an international student and don’t have a U.S. guarantor?
International students can face an additional challenge because they may not have an established U.S. credit history or someone in the United States who can act as a guarantor.
The Heights has specific guidance for international applicants.
For applicants who don’t have U.S. credit history and/or a guarantor, The Heights states that it will accept prepayment of two installments in place of the credit/guarantor requirements. Those prepaid installments are applied to the final two months of the lease.
International applicants must also provide at least two of the following:
- A passport
- An INS document establishing the applicant’s ability to be in the United States
- Proof of employment in the United States
- An I-20 verifying student status
- Proof of enrollment
If you’re an international student, it’s a good idea to contact The Heights leasing team before starting your application so you know which documents you’ll need.
What information will I need when applying at The Heights?
Getting your information together before you begin can make the application process easier.
According to The Heights’ leasing process, applicants should be prepared to provide information including:
- Your preferred floor plan and unit
- Your name, phone number, email address and birth date
- Your Social Security number
- Your guarantor’s name and email address, if you’re using one
- A photo or scan of an identification document
- Your current address and rental information
- Bedroom preferences
- Roommate information
Once your application is approved, you’ll receive a link to sign your lease electronically. After the lease is countersigned, you’ll receive a digital copy.
FAQs about apartment guarantors in College Station
Can my parent be my guarantor?
Potentially. Being your parent doesn’t automatically qualify someone as your guarantor. At The Heights, the person would still need to meet the property’s current guarantor requirements, including its income, credit score and bankruptcy criteria.
What credit score does my guarantor need at The Heights?
The Heights currently states that a guarantor must have a minimum credit score of 600.
How much income does a guarantor need at The Heights?
A guarantor must currently earn three times the resident’s monthly installment to qualify.
Can I live at The Heights without a guarantor?
Yes. The Heights currently provides three ways to secure a lease: using a qualified guarantor, prepaying two installments or enrolling in the LEAP Guarantor Waiver Program.
How much does LEAP cost at The Heights?
The Heights currently lists the LEAP Guarantor Waiver Program at $54 per month, added to your rent. Because rates and policies can change, confirm the current amount before signing your lease.
Understanding your guarantor options makes signing a lease easier
Signing your first apartment lease comes with a lot of new information. Terms like credit requirements, installments, guarantors and guarantor waiver programs can make the process feel more complicated than simply choosing a floor plan.
But now you know what your options are.
A guarantor is a co-signer who helps you financially qualify for your lease, but using a traditional guarantor isn’t your only option at The Heights. You can currently secure your lease with a qualified guarantor, by prepaying two installments or through the LEAP Guarantor Waiver Program.
Your next step is to figure out which option makes the most sense for your situation — and understand how it affects your total housing costs before signing.
If you still have questions about guarantors, fees or the application process, contact The Heights‘ leasing team. They can walk you through the current requirements and help you understand what you’ll need before you apply.
Ready to start looking at your options? Explore The Heights’ floor plans and current availability.
Bailey Harris
Bailey Harris is the Leasing & Marketing Manager at The Heights. Born and raised in College Station, Bailey brings firsthand knowledge of the local community and Texas A&M area to help students find a place that feels like home. Outside of work, she enjoys watching a good show, soaking up the sun and trying fun new drinks around town.
Published On: September 11, 2026
Last Updated On: September 11, 2026