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Moving out
Moving out is a big decision and it's important to think about it first. If you're thinking about leaving home, we've got advice to help.
On this page
Leaving home
There are lots of reasons you might want to move out. You could:
- want to live independently
- not get on with your family
- be forced to leave
- be made homeless.
Leaving isn't always simple, and it's important to make sure you're prepared if you do. If you're not sure if you want to, it can help to talk about it to a Childline counsellor.
5 tips if you want to move out
- Take your time before deciding.
- Talk about it to your parents or carers.
- Get advice from specialist organisations.
- Plan what you'll need to do.
- Sort your finances.
advice for moving out
There's a lot to think about if you want to move out. If you've decided you want to, we've got advice to help.
Take your time
If you can, try not to rush. Make sure you can plan and know what you're doing before you leave.
Know your rights
Whether you can legally move out depends on your age but you also have the right to be safe no matter where you're staying.
Think about money
Living away from home means you'll be responsible for bills, rent and food. Depending on your situation, you might not be entitled to benefits that help with these costs which would mean you'd need to pay for this yourself.
Talk to your family or carers
It can help to talk about the reasons you want to move out. If you can’t talk to the people you live with, it can help to ask an adult you trust for help or to talk to a Childline counsellor.
Find out where you can live
If you’re under 18, where you can live might be limited. You’ll need to think about what you can afford, whether you’ll need a deposit and if you’ll need to live with other people.
Plan what you’ll need
Depending on where you move, you might need to buy furniture or essentials when you first move in. Looking in charity shops and second hand websites can help you to find things cheaply.
Your rights
Your right to move out depends a lot on how old you are.
Under 16
When you're under 16 your parents or carers have a responsibility to take care of you. This means that you can't move out and you can't legally be told or forced to move out.
You have the right to be safe where you live. If you feel unsafe, it can help to talk to a Childline counsellor for support.
Aged 16-17
When you're 16 or over, you have the right to leave home without your parent's or carer's permission and your parents or carers have the right to ask you to leave.
If you decide to move out or run away, your parents or carers can call the police. But they're unlikely to take you back unless you're unsafe.
When you're under 18, you usually can't rent a property by yourself. But you can get support if you're not living at home anymore.
If you've left home or you don't feel safe there, you can contact your local council for support. They'll work with social services to:
- support you and keep you safe
- find out if you can go home safely
- help you find somewhere else to live.
You can get support by talking to a Childline counsellor. You can also get advice on your rights from Shelter.
Aged 18 or over
When you're 18, you're considered to be an adult. You can leave home, be asked to leave and you can rent a property.
If you're made homeless, you may be able to get support to find somewhere to live. You can contact Shelter, your local council or Citizens Advice for information and advice.
Can I go into care?
There are lots of reasons someone might be taken into care. Usually, it's when it's too unsafe for a child or young person to live at home or when their parent's can't take care of them.
You're not able to decide yourself whether you go into care. But what you want to happen is important. Usually it's decided between you, your parents, social services and the courts (or Children's Panel in Scotland).
If you're worried about things at home, talking to social services or an adult you trust can help to keep you safe. If you talk to social services, they may want to talk to you and your family to find out what's been happening.
You can also talk to a Childline counsellor any time.
Coping if you can’t move out
Living at home can be difficult when you want to leave but you can't. But there are always other things you can do to stay safe and cope.
- Talk to your parents or carers
If you feel safe to, talking about how you feel at home might help you find new ways to get along with each other. It might help to ask an adult you trust to help you start the conversation or to write down what's difficult in a letter. - Talk outside of the family
Talking to a friend or adult you trust can help you let your feelings out and to cope. If you don't feel like you can talk to people you know, you can always talk to Childline. - Ask your family if you can take a break
Sometimes having time away from people can help you to get along better. You could try asking your family to stay with a relative or friend for a few days. - Get help if you don't feel safe
You should always feel safe at home. If you don't you can talk to Childline or an adult you trust, like a teacher.
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