Do I have to own a Property to be a Foster Carer?
When considering a career in foster care, we know you must have endless questions buzzing around in your head. One of the most frequently asked questions is: “Do I need to own my own house to be a Foster Carer?”
Can I be a Foster Carer if I’m in rented accommodation?
1 in 3 people believe if you live in rented accommodation you can’t foster. This isn’t the case – some of our Foster Carers own their houses and some live in rented accommodation. You don’t need to own your own home to be considered as a Foster Carer. What is important is having a home environment that you expect to remain in for some time, especially for a child who has already moved placement several times. You need a stable home for a foster child with no rent arrears or risk of eviction. What we would just need to check is, that if you do rent you have informed your landlord. We have found that landlords are generally fine with the property being a foster family home so this shouldn’t be a problem. References will be taken up with the landlord if rented, or if living in a mortgaged property, we will need to see recent statements.
What type of house do I need to live in?
Our Foster Carers live in all sorts of houses; from a two bedroom flat, to a large detached house. What is important is that there is sufficient room for an additional young person to live comfortably with enough physical space for the whole family in the communal areas of the house.
Do I need a spare bedroom?
Yes, this is essential. There must be enough room for all of the family, including the foster child or children. If you live in a house with more than 2 levels, we ask that foster children, of any age, be on the same floor as the carer to provide the required night time supervision.
Can my children share a bedroom with a foster child?
For many reasons foster children are not allowed to share a bedroom with birth children; this is to protect the interests of both the birth child and foster child. As an agency, we do not advocate your birth children sharing with a sibling to make room for a foster child; this is due to the fact that we do not wish for your birth child to feel resentment towards the foster child for having their own bedroom space and whilst your birth children may be OK with this, when they are teenagers I am sure this may become a problem. The only time foster children are allowed to share a room is if they are same-sex siblings, of a similar age, and if the carer is approved for this and has the space.
If you are still unsure as to some of the above situations and you would like to speak to someone about this further then please either submit your details on the form at the top right of this page and we will call you back or alternatively contact us on (freephone) 0800 038 7799.
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