Landlords

Landlords FAQs

• What is the Insurent® Lease Guaranty Program?

  The Insurent® Lease Guaranty Program is the first and leading provider of institutional guarantees on residential leases accepted in over 775,000 apartments representing over 8,000 buildings in the markets of New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Illinois, Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC, Nevada, California and Florida. The Insurent® Lease Guaranty insures the full rent obligation and other items under the lease.

  The Insurent® Lease Guaranty Program is used when a landlord requires a prospective tenant who doesn't meet the landlord's criteria (including insufficient income or lack of credit) to have a third-party guaranty of the lease, and/or additional security or prepayment of rent.

• What are the benefits of the Insurent® Lease Guaranty to the owner/landlord?

  The Insurent® Lease Guaranty Program reduces vacancies, closes leases for creditworthy persons that otherwise would not have closed, drives renters to your buildings, streamlines the rental process and eliminates all rent loss on leases guaranteed under the Insurent Lease Guaranty Program, all at no cost to the landlord/owner.

• Who are some of the landlords/management companies that accept the Insurent® Lease Guaranty Program?

  Hundreds of landlords/owners owning/managing over 775,000 apartments representing over 8,000 buildings accept the Insurent® Lease Guaranty Program. Representative owners/landlords include Related Management, Glenwood Management, Rose Associates, Equity Residential, Bozzuto Management, UDR, Inc., Manhattan Skyline, Lefrak Organization, Peter Cooper/Stuyvesant Town, Waterton Residential, Greystar, Forest City Ratner, Solow Management, Brookfield Properties, Silverstein Properties, Two Trees Management, FirstService Residential, Stellar Management, Brodsky Organization, Fetner Properties, Durst Organization, Kibel Companies, Gotham Organization, Windsor Property Management, Hakimian Organization, A & R Kalimian, Samson Management, LCOR, Stonehenge Management, Dermot Realty Management, BNE Real Estate, CompassRock Real Estate, Carlyle Property Management, Lalezarian Properties, Algin Management, BLDG Management, Abington Properties, Icon Group, Bettina Equities and Albanese Organization.

• Who is the Insurer of the Insurent Lease Guaranty Program?

  The Insurent® Lease Guaranty Program is underwritten and issued by Argonaut Insurance Company, a property and casualty insurance company rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best and licensed in New York and 48 other states. Argonaut Insurance Company is located at 225 West Washington, 6th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606, and is a subsidiary of Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd., a publicly held multi-billion insurance company.

• Who pays for the Insurent® Lease Guaranty?

  The renter pays for the Insurent® Lease Guaranty. Landlords solely accept the Insurent® Lease Guaranty Program.

• How much is the Guaranty fee under the Insurent® Lease Guaranty Program?

  On average, the guaranty fee for U.S. parties will approximate 70% - 90% of a month's rent for the one year lease guaranty. Average guaranty fees for non U.S. parties without U.S. based credit history will approximate 98% - 110% of a month’s rent for the one year lease guaranty. The guaranty fee is per lease, not per person. The renter pays the one-time fee prior to the execution of the lease agreement with the landlord. Guaranty fees for two year leases are approximately 85% higher than a one year lease guaranty, 18 month leases are approximately 39% higher, and 16 month leases are approximately 23% higher than a one year lease guaranty.

• When would the Insurent® Lease Guaranty be used?

  The Insurent® Lease Guaranty Program will be used when a landlord requires a prospective tenant who doesn't meet the landlord's criteria (including insufficient income or lack of credit) to have a third-party guarantor of the lease.

• Who are the primary renter groups that need the Insurent® Lease Guaranty?

  We issue guarantees for graduating college and professional school students entering the workforce; non U.S. employed persons relocating to the U.S.; U.S. and international students with Responsible Parties; self-employed persons; relocating persons; non-employed U.S. and non U.S. persons with significant cash liquid assets; retired creditworthy individuals; and U.S. Corporations.

• What does the Insurent® Lease Guaranty cover?

  The Insurent® Lease Guaranty guarantees the full rent obligation under the lease, and other features. Please view the Lease Rental Bond Policy (NY) /Lease Residual Value Policy (Other States) for specific details.

• Does the Lease Guaranty cover damage, legal fees, late fees and holdovers?

  The Insurent® Lease Guaranty covers damages if it results in rent loss. Late fees and legal fees are also covered to the extent of the security deposit. Holdovers are covered for up to two months post the expiration of the lease.

• What groups of renters will you not provide guarantees?

  The Insurent Program will not normally guarantee renters with bad credit.

• What is the advantage of an Insurent® Lease Guaranty over a parental or co-signer guaranty?

  The Insurent® Lease Guaranty is provided by a highly rated billion dollar insurance company. Argonaut Insurance Company is rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best. The Insurent® Lease Guarantor Service represents an institutional guaranty of payment versus a guaranty of collection by an individual. Insurent pays the claim within twenty four hours of the filing of claims. Moreover, the Insurent Program can be far quicker in closing the lease than an individual guarantor as we normally issue the guaranty on the lease within 24 hours.

• How long does it take to process the application for the Insurent® Lease Guaranty?

  Applicants complete online applications and are approved or disapproved for an Insurent® Qualification Certificate issued to them typically within 30 minutes except holidays. The full process from online application to issuance of the Guaranty to the landlord with typically take less than 24 hours.

• What is the duration of the Insurent® Lease Guaranty?

  The Insurent® Lease Guaranty Policy covers one year leases (including one year leases plus a partial month), two year leases, 13 month – 15 month leases, 16 month leases and 18 month leases.

• What markets are covered by the Insurent® Lease Guaranty Program?

  Currently, the Insurent® Lease Guaranty is applicable to apartments located in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Illinois, Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC, Nevada, California and Florida. We plan to expand the program to other major U.S. markets in the near future. The Lease Guarantor Service initially started in New York and continues to rapidly expand.

• When does the landlord or condo/co-op owner receive payment under the Insurent® Lease Guaranty Program?

  The landlord submits a claim upon recovery of legal possession of the apartment. Payment of loss to the landlord or condo/co-op owner is normally made within 24 hours of receipt of a claim under the Lease Rental Bond Policy (NY) /Lease Residual Value Policy (Other States) . For complete details, please view the Lease Rental Bond Policy (NY) / Lease Residual Value Policy (Other States).

• Are there any pre-conditions under the Insurent® Lease Guaranty Program?

  Yes, there are a few minimal pre-conditions. The landlord must collect one months rent and one month of security (or the last months rent), and the landlord must commence an eviction proceeding within 65 days of non-payment by the tenant. For complete details, please view the Lease Rental Bond Policy (NY) /Lease Residual Value Policy (Other States).

• Do I have to change my existing procedures to incorporate the Insurent® Lease Guaranty Program?

  No. There is no change to your existing procedures.

• Is there an obligation for the landlord to use the Insurent® Lease Guaranty Program after accepting the Program in its buildings?

  No.

• Are there any hidden costs to a landlord/owner after accepting the Insurent® Lease Guaranty Program ?

  None.

• Is the Insurent® Lease Guaranty applicable to any apartment?

  The Insurent® Lease Guaranty Program presently applies to rental apartments, condos, coops, or single family homes with monthly rents of $1,000 or higher in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Illinois, Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC, Nevada, California and Florida.

• Is the Insurent® Lease Guaranty applicable for rent-stabilized apartments?

  The Insurent® Lease Guarantor Service is available for market-rate and rent-stabilized apartments. The Insurent Program is particularly important in leases governed under Rent Stabilization in New York City as it offers, in most cases, the only way to close the lease if the renter does not meet the landlord’s requirement and does not have an individual guarantor at 75x-90x the monthly rent in NYC.

• Can the Insurent® Lease Guaranty be used in buildings or condo/coop apartments that don’t accept the Insurent Program?

  No. The Insurent® Lease Guaranty Service must be accepted by the landlord/owner in order for Insurent Guarantees to be issued on specific leases. There is no cost of any kind to the landlord/owner. Signup of an individual building, condo or sponsor coop unit takes less than one hour.

• Do all landlords in New York accept the Insurent® Lease Guaranty?

  Hundreds of landlords owning/managing over 8,000 buildings representing over 775,000 apartments accept the Insurent® Lease Guaranty. New landlords and their respective buildings are being added on an ongoing basis. If you wish to have your building accept the Insurent® Lease Guaranty, please email landlord-info@insurent.com or call (646) 843-1712

• Please detail the Sign-up Process for an Owner and the timing for the signup of its buildings?

  Signup of your buildings occur in a few hours and only requires the following information to be emailed to Insurent: (i) The name of the legal entity owning each building; (ii) the address of each building including zip code; (iii) the principal name and address of your company or management company; and (iv) the name, email address and telephone number of your head of leasing. For individual condo units or coop units, also add the unit number.

• Do the landlords' rights under a lease change if the tenant has an Insurent® Lease Guaranty?

  The landlord retains all of the rights which are part of the apartment lease. Moreover, all of the tenant's obligations and responsibilities under the apartment lease remain the same.

• Does the use of the Insurent® Lease Guaranty mean that I cannot evict the tenant if he or she stops paying rent or breaches other provisions of their lease?

  No. The Insurent® Lease Guaranty does not prevent a landlord or condo/co-op owner from commencing an eviction proceeding. Pursuant to the Lease Rental Bond Policy (NY) /Lease Residual Value Policy (Other States), the landlord/owner must commence an eviction proceeding within 65 days of non-payment by the tenant. Utilization of Insurent’s Lease Guaranty will not relieve a tenant of any obligations including the payment of rent. In addition, a tenant is liable to the insurance company for any claims paid to the landlord, and will be subject to legal action for the full recovery of any such payments. Please view the Tenant Participation Agreement for specific details.

• Is there an obligation for the landlord to accept an Insurent Qualified Renter?

  No. The decision to accept the renter is always the landlord’s decision.

• What happens in the case of a renewal lease?

  The Insurent® Lease Guaranty does not automatically apply to lease renewals or extensions. If the tenant needs a lease guaranty for a lease renewal, he or she will contact Insurent and we will process a renewal lease guaranty. The tenant receives a 10% discount on the renewal guaranty.

• Please detail the Claims Process.

  Upon recovering legal possession of the apartment, the Insurer will bring the Landlord or condo/coop unit owner current within 5 business days of the claim submission for all past rent owed after receiving a Court order, judgment of possession (including abandonment) or settlement agreement in an Eviction Proceeding, or an agreement between the Landlord and the Tenant approved by the Insurer, however many months that represents under the one year lease. The Settlement agreement in an eviction proceeding, the Agreement between landlord and tenant approved by the Insurer, and Abandonment without a court order do not require a judgment. In the event that there are additional months remaining on the lease term, the Insurer will pay on a monthly basis on the 10th day of every month until the apartment is relet. If the apartment was relet for less than the monthly rent specified in the original lease, the Insurer will pay the differential to the landlord on the 10th day of every month until the termination of the original lease term.

• Can a prospective tenant get pre-approved for the Insurent® Lease Guaranty before he or she has found an apartment?

  Yes. A prospective tenant can apply for the Insurent® Lease Guaranty and, if he or she qualifies, he or she will receive an Insurent® Qualification Certificate. He or she can show the Insurent® Qualification Certificate to brokers and landlords to help speed the lease approval process.

  There is no application fee or an Insurent® Qualification Certificate.

  Once the prospective tenant finds a specific apartment or before, the renter will submit his or her income and identity validations (or other applicable verifications) wherein the renter will be fully qualified by Insurent. The Insurent Guaranty will be issued promptly to the landlord/owner upon the execution of the Tenant Participation and the payment of the Guaranty fee.

• What are the basic requirements for a renter to qualify for the Insurent® Lease Guaranty ?

  If US, a minimum annual income of 27.5x the monthly rent OR cash liquid assets/publicly held securities of a minimum of 50x the monthly rent, and good credit.

  If non-US, a minimum annual income of 27.5x the monthly rent OR cash liquid assets/publicly held securities of a minimum of 50x the monthly rent, and no US credit history required.
  If an international student, a Responsible Party (normally a father or mother overseas) who has a minimum annual income of 50x the monthly rent in their home country OR cash liquid assets/publicly held securities of a minimum of 80x the monthly rent in their home country or elsewhere.

  If a US student or US person with income less than 27.5x the monthly rent, the renter must have good credit and a Responsible Party (normally a father or mother) who has a minimum annual income of 50x the monthly rent OR cash liquid assets/publicly held securities of a minimum of 80x the monthly rent. The Responsible Party is just a signatory on our Agreement and has nothing to do with the lease.

• How do you issue a Guaranty for an international student or US student?

  We qualify a foreign student or U.S. student based on their father (or mother or some relative overseas or here) being a Responsible Party solely on our Agreement. Their father (or some relative overseas or here) would not be a signatory on the apartment lease. The father (or mother or some relative overseas or here) will just need to have a minimum annual income of 50x the monthly rent in their home country or a minimum of cash liquid assets/marketable securities held by them in their home country of 80x the monthly rent. We can also combine parents to meet the above tests.