Guarantor - is this normal?

[Alex]

Hi all,

I've got a new job from July on, so we're moving to Colchester, Essex. I was with my wife at an agency and the guy, who I felt was a real dick anyway, starting the conversation by asking me about whether I had a guarantor. Since my family is abroad (US and Germany) and my wife is Venezuelan, we don't. Apparently it is because I am starting a new job and could be "laid off quickly" (that's how he put it); never mind the fact that I worked for 5 years full-time and have a good credit-history, never mind that I'm a university lecturer... (I think he saw me as some kind of student).
The problem is I don't have a lot of saving either, because I a) paid for a training course for my wife to get an English teacher's certificate and b) have all of it invested in stocks in Germany (which, again, is abroad). My wife isn't working at the moment, because we are moving because of me and she'll have to look for a job in the Essex area ... :-(
I felt quite insulted, but got the impression from a guy from another agency that this is quite normal when people get new jobs (although that guy looked like 18 and like he didn't know much about anything other than how to apply fake tan).

How do I get a guarantor if I have no relatives in the UK and no substantial savings? In fact, money is quite tight at the moment, with all the fuel and hotel bills and I'll also have to pay something like 2k for deposit and first rent already...

[Frank]

Agencies will often ask for a guarantor if you're a credit risk or if you don't have a regular source of income. Personally I wouldn't deal with an agency that insisted on a guarantor, as you say they're getting a deposit and rent up front. Plus it's pretty well impossible to find anyone who's willing to sign the forms.

[gwEm]

Its normal letting agents are arseholey.

If you have a job and proof of that then its not normal to need a guarantor.

Maybe ask to speak to the guys boss.