Leaving home and family problems

You can leave home without your parents' permission when you are 16. 

Make sure you're ready. Living on your own is challenging. It can be hard to get a place of your own before you’re 18.

If you are homeless or have to leave your home

Contact Childline if you’re under 16 and cannot live at home.

Your parents cannot legally tell you to leave home until your 16th birthday.

16 and 17 year olds

Your council's social services team should help if you're homeless.

For example, if:

• you have nowhere to go

• you’re staying with different people short term

• you're facing domestic abuse at home

The council's housing team must give you emergency housing if you go to them first but they usually ask social services to look at your case.

Family money problems

If you’re asked to leave because your family does not have enough money, they could get help from a local hardship fund or welfare assistance scheme.

Find out more about:

• homeless help if you’re 16 or 17

• emergency housing options for young people

18 or over

If you’re 18 or over, contact the council's housing team to make a homelessness application.

You might not get emergency housing, but you should get a personal housing plan with advice on finding a home.

If things are bad at home

You might get support to sort out problems.

Your council's social services could help you find a mediator. This is an independent person who helps you and your family work problems out.

Find out more from Childline.

If your parents say you can stay

Your council might not help with longer term housing if your parents say you can stay at home and it is safe.

Social services could say this means you have a suitable place to live and do not need their help.

You could still ask for help with mediation.

If you leave home when you could stay, you council's housing team might say you are intentionally homeless.

Money help if you have to leave

It can be difficult to get universal credit or housing benefit to help pay rent if you are under 18.

Use the entitledto benefits calculator to see what you could get.

Look for a rent deposit, rent guarantee or bond scheme for help with:

• a tenancy deposit

• rent in advance

Guarantors

Some private landlords only rent to young people if they have a guarantor.

A guarantor is someone who must pay the rent if you do not. It is usually a family member.

Finding furniture

Ask your friends and family if they have spare furniture and household items. You could also try:

• second hand and charity shops

• jumble sales

• placing ads in shop windows

• social media selling sites

• websites such as Gumtree and Freecycle

You could also contact the council or your local Citizens Advice for details of organisations that help with furniture.