Simple or joint guarantee: what is the difference?

A joint guarantee lets you claim directly from the guarantor at the first unpaid rent; a simple guarantee requires pursuing the tenant first. The joint guarantee is more protective for the landlord.

Can I require a guarantor AND a GLI?

No, except for a student or apprentice. For other tenants, combining a cautionnement (guarantee) with a GLI is, as a rule, prohibited.

Does VISALE replace a guarantor?

Yes: VISALE acts as surety free of charge for the eligible tenant and replaces a personal guarantor. The landlord is compensated for unpaid rent within the scheme’s limits.

Surety and guarantor: the deed of guarantee and VISALE

Updated on July 6, 2026 · 6 min read

To secure rent payment, the landlord can ask for a caution (surety): a person (the guarantor) undertakes to pay if the tenant defaults. The commitment takes the form of a regulated deed of guarantee. Alongside the classic guarantor, VISALE offers a free surety.

Simple or joint guarantee

With a caution simple (simple guarantee), the landlord must first pursue the defaulting tenant before turning to the guarantor. With a caution solidaire (joint guarantee) — the most common — they can claim directly from the guarantor at the first unpaid rent, without going through the tenant. The nature of the commitment must be clear in the deed.

The deed of guarantee

The guarantor’s commitment is set out in a deed of guarantee, signed and carrying precise wording: the rent amount and its review terms, the scope and duration of the commitment, and the guarantor’s awareness of the extent of what they are undertaking. An incomplete deed may be deprived of effect.

Combining with insurance

As a rule, the landlord cannot combine a cautionnement (guarantee) with a garantie loyers impayés (GLI, rent-default insurance) on the same lease, except where the tenant is a student or apprentice. You must therefore choose between guarantor and insurance, based on the profile and cost.

VISALE: the free surety

VISALE, offered by Action Logement, acts as guarantor free of charge for eligible tenants (notably young people and employees on the move) and reimburses unpaid rent to the landlord within the set limits. It is a cost-free solution when the tenant has no personal guarantor.

Frequently asked questions

Simple or joint guarantee: what is the difference?: A joint guarantee lets you claim directly from the guarantor at the first unpaid rent; a simple guarantee requires pursuing the tenant first. The joint guarantee is more protective for the landlord.
Can I require a guarantor AND a GLI?: No, except for a student or apprentice. For other tenants, combining a cautionnement (guarantee) with a GLI is, as a rule, prohibited.
Does VISALE replace a guarantor?: Yes: VISALE acts as surety free of charge for the eligible tenant and replaces a personal guarantor. The landlord is compensated for unpaid rent within the scheme’s limits.