Leaving home if you're a young parent

This content applies to Scotland only.

Housing laws vary between Scotland and England. This page applies to Scotland only. Get advice relating to England

If you are a young parent thinking of leaving home, find out more about the different housing options that might be suitable for you and your children.

Renting from the council or a housing association

If you are aged 16 or over, you can apply for a flat or a house with the council, a housing association or a housing cooperative. This type of accommodation is economical and you won't have to pay a deposit before you move in.

Councils and housing associations either have a waiting list for housing, or they operate a 'choice based' letting system. Either way, you may have to wait a long time before you're offered a place.

Housing waiting lists

If your local council has a housing waiting list, you will be given points based on your circumstances, which will determine your place on the list. The more points you have, the further up the list you will be.

Some people believe that if you're pregnant or have children, the council will automatically give you a house. This is not true. However, you may get extra points if you have children. You will also get extra points if:

• you have been in care
• your current home is seriously overcrowded or unfit for you and your child to live in
• you're homeless.

Even if you are at the top of the waiting list, you can only be offered a place when a suitable flat or a house becomes available.

Choice based letting schemes

Some council areas operate a 'choice based' letting system. This means the council advertises available properties and instead of adding your name to the waiting list, you bid for places where you would like to live and which are suitable for you (for example, you can't bid for properties which are too big or too small for your family). If more than one person bids for a property, it will usually go to the person who has been waiting the longest. Some people may also have special priority, for example, because they are homeless or have health problems.

Making a homeless application to the council

You don't have to be sleeping on the streets to be homeless. The council might view you as being homeless if:

• you live with your parents but they want you to leave
• you are staying with friends or relatives in their home
• the home you live in is seriously overcrowded or unfit for you to live in
• you want to live with your partner but he or she cannot live with you in your current home.

If you think that you might be homeless you can make a homeless application to the council. The council will look at your application and decide if they have a duty to offer you permanent accommodation. If you have nowhere to stay when you make your application, the council should provide you with temporary accommodation.

Because the council cannot provide everyone who applies with permanent accommodation it has to prioritise the help it gives. If you are pregnant or have children who will be living with you, you will be given priority. However the council will also look at how you became homeless and if you have a connection to the area you have applied in, before it will decide if you should be offered permanent accommodation.

Making a homeless application and going on the council or a housing association waiting list are two different ways of applying for housing. If you think that you are homeless, make sure you do both.

Supported accommodation

Some councils and voluntary organisations offer supported housing for young mothers in special hostels or units, with support workers on hand to help you adjust to being a parent and living independently. Support workers can offer advice on benefits and other financial issues, education and employment opportunities. They will also help you prepare for moving into accommodation without support. Call Shelter's free housing advice helpline on 0808 800 4444 or contact your local council to find out if there is any supported accommodation in your area.

Private rented accommodation

Many young people rent a flat or a house from a private landlord when they leave home. Privately rented accommodation is more readily available than council housing, but it's also more expensive, and you'll need to come up with a deposit and rent in advance as well.

If you rent from a private landlord there is always a risk that the landlord will ask you to move out because they want to live in the property themselves or because they want to sell it, so you may find yourself having to move around a lot.

Some landlords will have a 'no children' rule in their properties. In addition, it may be hard to find a landlord who'll accept you as a tenant if you are on a low income and claiming benefits. Ask your local housing aid centre, Citizens Advice Bureau or council housing department if they have a list of landlords who accept tenants who are receiving benefits. Use the Advice Services Directory to find help near you.

Student accommodation

If you are planning to leave home to go to university or college, you may be able to get help to find accommodation from the university or college's accommodation service. Some universities and colleges have student accommodation that is suitable for families. Alternatively, the accommodation service may be able to provide you with a list of privately rented accommodation in the area that might be suitable for you. You can find out more about student accommodation here.

How will I pay for my accommodation?

You can find out more about the benefits available for parents to help you pay for housing here.

Things to think about

When you are looking for accommodation, here are a few things to think about:

• will you be near family and friends for support and babysitting?
• how easy will it be to get in and out with a small child or buggy in tow?
• is there anywhere nearby for children to play safely?
• which nursery and school will your child be able to attend?

The Leaving Home website has helpful advice about moving on as a new parent.

Once you've left home

When you move into your new place, you may feel a bit daunted by the prospect of looking after a home and your children on your own. If you feel isolated, lonely or have worries about childcare or money you can contact:

• Parentline Scotland on their free confidential helpline for parents and anyone caring for a child in Scotland. Advisers will listen to your problems and let you know where you can get further help and information. Tel: 0808 800 2222
• One Space and One Parent Families Scotland have helpful advice for single parents.
• Breathing Space, a free, confidential phone line you can call when you're feeling down and need someone to talk to. Tel: 0800 83 85 87