Housing Advice for Young People - 16 to 24 Years Old

If you are thinking about leaving home or need advice about housing, please get in touch with us. We can make an appointment for you to see a Youth Project Worker to discuss your options. Youth Services at Torbay Council may also be able to help.

Quality housing is hard to find and raising the deposit is even more difficult for young people. You should, therefore, think carefully and seek advice before you make the decision to leave.

If you have no other choice but to leave your accommodation you may be able to stay with a friend or relative whilst you consider your options. If not, contact the Council's Housing Advice Office or any of the other agencies listed below. They will be able to give you information and advice.

Leaving Home and Benefits

16-25 years

If you are not working or only have a low income you may be entitled to Housing Benefit. However, if you are single and under 25 years of age you may only be able to claim for a single room rent, enough for a small bedsit or a room in a shared house. For further information contact the Housing Benefit Section.

Under 18's

You can only claim benefit's (Job Seekers Allowance or Income Support) if you are estranged from your parents. This is when you are not able to stay at home with your parents at all. You will have to contact Connexions and get an ES9 form before you can claim benefits. Furthermore, you will not legally be able to hold your own tenancy; a responsible adult will need to act as a Guarantor for you. This means they will sign an agreement saying they will pay for any damage or unpaid rent on the property.

Useful Contacts

• Careline
  A national, confidential counselling line for children, young people and adults on any issue including family, marital & relationship problems, child abuse, rape & sexual assault, depression and anxiety.
  
  Tel: 0208 514 1177
  Email: careline@totalise.co.uk
  

• Children's Rights Alliance for England
  This service has legal experience to help you solve your problem. We can advise you over the phone or email about the law, your human rights and what to do if you are being treated unfairly. We can put you in touch with other services that can help. For further information please see related documents and contact details below.
  
  Freephone Tel: 0800 32 88 759
  Lines open: Tue, Wed & Thur – 3.30pm to 5.30pm
  Standard charges apply from mobiles. Textphone users dial 18001 first.
  Email: advice@crae.org.uk
  Website: http://www.crae.org.uk/index.html
  

• Citizens Advice Bureau
  Offers free, confidential and impartial advice on a wide range of issues, including housing, benefits, legal matters, employment, immigration and consumer issues.
  
  
• Check Point
  An Information and Advice drop-in centre for 13-25 year olds in need of assistance and advice. It promotes and safeguards the well-being of children and young people at risk of social exclusion.
  
  Address: 7 Victoria Road, Torquay, TQ1 1HU
  Tel: 01803 200100
  Email: checkpoint@childrenssociety.org.uk.

Related Documents

You've got the Right - advice for children on human rights and equality law in England

Children, families, and young people housing and support strategy 2008-2012

People First - Housing and Home - full draft version

To view any published Related Documents for this service you will require the appropriate software. To download this software please see our documents help page. All links to documents will open in a new window. To request documents and files in an alternative format please contact us using the contact information provided on this page.