How can I terminate my guarantee for my daughter's rental property?

Questioner

My daughter had a rental property for which I stood surety. She left the property over a year and a half ago. Out of the blue, I received a letter from a debt collection agency today requesting immediate payment of half a year's rent arrears. Can they demand that and isn't it true that the guarantee has expired since my daughter no longer lives in the rental property?

Lawyer

That depends on the period to which the claim for the rent arrears relates. If it relates to the period in which your daughter rented the house, yes, otherwise of course not. If your daughter has left without terminating the lease, it is possible that the landlord can still charge rent arrears. Unless he has already rented the house to someone else in the meantime. In that case, he has apparently agreed to terminate the lease. You will have to check that.