Moving out of home
Staying with friends, renting or buying
Leaving home is a big change in your life which can be exciting, fun and daunting all at the same time with a mass of responsibilities to match. Make sure you know what you're letting yourself in for before you decide to make the leap.
There's a lot to consider, including:
- Bills
- Benefits
- Tenancy agreements
- Mortgage types
- Council tax
- House sharing
- Deposits
- Legal rights
- Landlords
No Limits
You can talk about your options with a No Limits youth homelessness worker or youth advice worker.
You can find out what sort of accommodation you can get and what money you could have to pay for it, and work through a budget to see if you can afford it.
Finding a property
Don't forget to check out the local newspapers and letting agencies for rooms and properties to rent, or read the notice boards at colleges, universities and post offices for local rental opportunities. Take a walk around the area where you're looking to rent and look for TO LET boards. Act fast and persevere, as good accommodation goes very quickly. Always take someone with you when viewing, both for safety and a second opinion.
You will usually be asked to pay a deposit on your rental property as security against things like rent arrears, damage or removal of furniture. Some local authorities, housing associations and charities offer loans to help you pay your deposit – these are known as Rent Deposit Guarantee Schemes. Contact the Housing Team for details about possible schemes operating in your area.
You can also find out about the Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme.
