Young people and housing

Council tax

If you're under 18, you do not have to pay council tax.

Read more about council tax.

Leaving home

In most cases, you can leave home without the consent of your parents once you're 16.

Being forced to leave home

If you're in conflict with your parent or parents, you might be forced to leave home. Mediation might help you resolve the conflict.

If you're over 16, your parents only have a responsibility to provide guidance - this might not include providing accommodation. Unless you're a joint owner or a tenant in the property, you will not have any right to stay.

If your parents are married, either of them can ask you to leave. But if they're not married and only 1 parent is the owner or tenant, then only the owner or tenant can force you to leave.

If you're under 16, or you're over 16 and you've previously been in care, and your parents force you to leave, the local council is likely to get involved and must provide care and accommodation for you.

Renting a home

If you're 16 or over, you can apply to the local council for a home of your own. Local council landlords and social landlords must put people over 16 onto their housing waiting list. But the right to be put on a waiting list is not the same as the right to be given a house.

If you move into rented accommodation, you might be able to get help to pay your rent if you’re on a low income or you claim benefits. You might be eligible for the housing element of Universal Credit, or in some cases you might be eligible for Housing Benefit.

If you're under 18, you'll only get Universal Credit if you meet certain conditions, for example if you have a child.

Find out more about Universal Credit housing element.

Find out more about Housing Benefit.

Owning a home

You can own your own home at any age.

If you're under 16, you would probably have to instruct someone over 16 to buy a home on your behalf - unless you could prove that it was reasonable for you to do it yourself.

You can buy and sell property from the age of 16 without parental consent. But special rules apply to transactions made by people between the ages of 16 and 18. You can apply to court to 'set aside' or cancel any transactions made during these 2 years. You have the right to make an application until you're 21.

To have a transaction set aside, you have to prove to the court that, looking back, your decision to make the transaction was unwise. This is a complicated area of law, so if you want to make an application to have a transaction set aside, you should talk to a solicitor.

Read more about using a solicitor.

Homelessness

If you're 16 or over and you leave home voluntarily, you might be able to get accommodation from the local council as a homeless person if you meet certain conditions.

If you're forced to leave your family home, it's more likely that you will meet those conditions and be given emergency accommodation.

These rules also apply if you're an asylum seeker. If you don't understand English, the local council must provide you with help and information in your own language. If you're given accommodation in a children's home, your religious needs must be taken account of - for example, if you're Muslim, you should be offered Halal food.

Read more about if you're homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Discrimination

It's illegal for someone who is providing you with accommodation or other housing services to discriminate against you because of your disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity rights, race, sex, sexuality or religion.

Read more about discrimination in housing.

Mediation

Mediation can help families talk about difficult issues, and it might be able to stop someone becoming homeless. Everyone has the chance to have their say, be listened to and be treated as an equal.

Mediators are impartial and help everyone to come to an agreement about what they want to happen in the future.

You might have to pay for mediation, depending on the provider. Let them know if you're on a low income, as you might be eligible for a reduced rate.

You can find a trained mediator on the Scottish Mediation website.

More help

There are several organisations that can help young people with housing issues.

Foyers

Foyers provide secure, supported housing to young people aged 16-25 who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of experiencing homelessness.

You can find details of your nearest location on the Foyer website.

Shelter Scotland

Shelter Scotland can provide information about your housing rights and help if you're homeless.

For free housing advice, call Shelter on 0808 800 4444 or visit the Shelter Scotland website.

Who Cares? Scotland

Who Cares? Scotland can provide information and support for children and young people who are, or have been looked after.