TectoPass or guarantor: what are the differences for renting?

To reassure a landlord, a tenant has several options. Two of them are often compared: the guarantor and TectoPass. Yet they don't play the same role. One is a safety net in case of default, the other is proof of reliability. Here's how to distinguish between them.

The guarantor: a safety net in case of default

A guarantor (or surety) is a person, or sometimes an organisation, who commits in writing to pay the rent on behalf of the tenant if the latter fails to do so. It's a financial guarantee: it comes into play after the fact, when a payment issue arises.

The guarantor has well-known limitations. You need to find a solvent person willing to commit, gather their supporting documents, and the landlord must in turn verify this file. All of this takes time, and a tenant without a close guarantor can find themselves blocked even if they pay their rent perfectly.

TectoPass: proof of reliability

TectoPass does not replace a guarantor and does not commit to paying on anyone's behalf. It answers a different question, upfront: does this tenant have a track record of paying their rent regularly?

TectoPass is based on the Tecto Score, which analyses the actual rent payment history via Open Banking, with the tenant's consent. The result is an official document with a QR code, which the tenant shares directly with the landlord or agency.

Comparison table

| Criterion | Guarantor | TectoPass | |--------|--------|-----------| | Nature | Financial commitment from a third party | Proof of tenant's reliability | | Timing | Comes into play after a payment default | Informs before signing | | Based on | The guarantor's solvency | The tenant's actual rent payment history | | Dependency | Requires a third party willing to commit | Independent, the tenant provides their own proof | | Reusable | No, must be redone for each rental | Yes, shareable from one application to another |

Should you choose one or the other?

The two are not mutually exclusive. A tenant can present a TectoPass to prove their reliability, and a landlord may also request a guarantor according to their policy. The difference is that TectoPass provides verified and immediate information, whereas the guarantor remains a conditional safety net that relies on a third party.

For a tenant without a guarantor at hand, TectoPass is particularly useful: it allows them to demonstrate their credibility based on facts, rather than depending on the availability of a close contact.

In summary

The guarantor is a safety net in case of non-payment. TectoPass is proof, upfront, that the tenant pays their rent regularly. The former reassures about the consequences of a default, the latter reduces the risk of it occurring. Immotecto offers TectoPass in 9 European countries and in 6 languages, free of charge for tenants today.