To wonder why people think it's illegal

[Letstryagainshallwe]

I am a member on a fb group (like a diy/decorating group) and the amount of people that think it's illegal for brother and sisters to share a room after a certain age is shocking! It pops up constantly when people ask for bedroom ideas for mixed sex siblings, with people thinking it's "illegal" and "not allowed" after a certain age! Why do people think this! And why would it be?

They think it because there are guidelines/rules for council housing about the age at which siblings can share rooms.
Up the that age, the council would expect them to share a room when deciding what size of house you get.
After that age, you can get a bigger house with an extra bedroom in order for them to not share

Somehow, people assume that council rules = the law but it clearly doesn't apply to private rentals or owner occupier houses, nor is it the law in council houses if siblings want to share

It's not illegal but many councils have rules about opposite sex kids sharing after the age of 10. used to be 5 but then they brought in the bedroom tax

Because in council housing once children were a certain age you qualified for bedroom each (or sharing for same sex sibling) so as soon as they qualified people would apply and move up to bigger houses as a "right". So it wasn't illegal as such in that no one would force you to move just that you could if there was a bigger place.
But as you say if you own or rent own place and can't afford bigger you simply share no matter if age or sex!

What's your DIY / decorating group got to do with it? Is it just people in that group who think it's illegal?

Can't help you really, I don't think I've ever discussed this with anyone, let alone had anyone tell me they think it's illegal.......

Yeh I can't see why council even giving people a priority when siblings reach that age. I imagine you would just join the list in a non priority band.

AFAIK it used to be something to do with council houses or housing association properties. If this is the case I'd be amazed if it was ever law - how do you enforce it ? I don't think the 'restrictions' could apply to private housing.

Because that's where it pops up on alot. So just wondering why people think it. I only ever see people say it on there

When renting fom the council/HA, you should be allocated accommodation which includes enough bedrooms so that opposite sex sibs aged over (10?) do not share, and that's where the idea comes from. Of course it's not illegal in private rentals, or in owner-occupied properties.

The same reason people say it's illegal for banks to tale charges from benefit money.
They read something on those ludicrous freeman siteso and think it's gospel.

This "law" would be impossible to enforce purely because families with 6 plus children in a 4 bed house which are hard to come across anyway In social or private housing would have to have some children sharing at some point. And it's unusual to have 3 each of one sex.

It's not priority it's eligibility. A couple with two kids of different sex under the age of four would be eligible for a 2 bed. When they get over a certain age then they become eligible for a 3 bed. They also use it for bedroom tax.

I wonder if anyone has told a council yet that their child has changed Gender to get a bigger house.

"I don't think the 'restrictions' could apply to private housing."

Some LLs apply it, especially now that competition for low cost rentals is high.

I've heard of B&Bs and Hotels being awkward about a Parent sharing a bed with a child over 8, as well.

It all reinforces it, in some people's minds, as it being a law.

The Brady bunch probably has a lot to do with it...