If you’re a young person leaving home

If you need to leave home immediately, who to contact depends on your age:

• if you're under 16, contact the social work by finding your council's contact details on mygov.scot

• if you're 16 or older, contact the homeless team

If you’re 18 or under, you can contact Childline, a children’s charity that will give you support and advice:

• call for free on 0800 1111, 24 hours every day

• email or chat with an advisor

If you’re in danger

Call the police on 999 if you’re in immediate danger.

If you’re reporting something that happened before or you’re worried could happen later, call them on 101.

You can also contact:

• Childline - call for free on 0800 1111, 24 hours every day

• Scotland's Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline - call for free on 0800 027 1234, 24 hours every day

• Victim Support Scotland if you've been affected by a crime - call for free on 0800 160 1985, Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm

Solving problems at home

If you're arguing with your parents or carers, you can ask a mediator to help you talk to them.

Mediators will not force you to do anything you do not want to do. They can help you agree on next steps like:

• whether you’ll return home

• if you’ll return home temporarily until you can find somewhere else to live

• if you and your family or carers will stay in contact

You’ll meet with the mediator first and they’ll get your permission before they contact anyone.

Finding a mediator

Some councils offer mediation services for families. Find your local council’s website on mygov.scot.

If the council does not offer this service, find a mediator on the Scottish Mediation website.

Finding a home

The council must help you if you need to leave your home. They cannot force you to return to your parent’s or carer’s home if you do not want to.

Getting homeless help from the council

If you’re 16 or over and have to leave home, the council must give you somewhere safe to stay.

You do not have to be living on the streets to be homeless. Homelessness can mean sofa-surfing, staying with friends or living somewhere where you're not safe.

Check our advice on how to make a homeless application.

If you’re under 16

You usually cannot live on your own. The council’s social work team can:

• investigate if your home is unsafe or unsuitable

• find you somewhere safe to stay - for example with a foster carer

• pay for your rent, bills and food

• work with you to see if you could return safely to your parent’s or carer’s home

Renting a home

If you're 16 or 17 and you want to leave home, you can apply for social housing. It can be difficult to rent privately if you’re under 18. You would usually need an adult to sign a tenancy agreement on your behalf.

If you are 18 or older you can apply to rent from a private landlord as well as applying for social housing.

Check our advice on:

• applying for social housing

• finding a private rented home

Check your housing options if:

• you're leaving care

• you're LGBTQ+

• you're a student

• you’re not a British or Irish citizen

Getting help to pay housing costs

If you’re under 16, social work is responsible for providing you with housing.

You could get benefits if you’re on a low income.

Check if you could get:

• Universal Credit to help pay rent

• Discretionary Housing Payment if your benefits do not cover the rent

You usually need to be 18 or older to get benefits. You could get benefits if you’re 16 or 17 and:

• you have a health condition or disability

• you’re caring for someone who gets a health or disability-related benefit

• you have a child you look after

• you’re pregnant and expecting your baby in the next 11 weeks

• you’ve had a baby in the last 15 weeks

• you do not have parental support

If you’re worried about being able to pay for your home, speak to a money and debt adviser. They can help you reduce your costs, get benefits, and negotiate repayments on any debts.

Check our advice on getting money and debt advice.