Friend pregnant with no 5

[Shirleycantbe]

Eldest is 7. She has 2 bedrooms. No garden. The 4 youngest share a small bedroom. She has asked me if I think having 5 together in one bedroom is an issue - either for the kids or legally. Anyone else in this situation - I am finding it hard to respond positively but want to be supportive.

i dont think there are any rules legally, unless she is in council housing? and then there are rules about how many of what ages and sexes share rooms but kids under 5? i think count as 'half' a person, with regards to over crowding.

it doesnt sound ideal but we have 5 in a 3 bedroom house and that is fine.

i would assume the baby would be in with her for a while, certainly for the first 6mths and could be for longer if needed?

It sounds like she's in a 2 bed three person house, atm.

The children, until they reach eight, are classed as half a person, therefore, if there are two adults and five children, the council would say that there are 4.5 people living in the house an she would technicly be overcrowded an would need a bigger house.

Though, ime children never lost out because they shared a bedroom. As long as all are loved and happy, whats the issue?

Just to add, i shared a bedroom with my four sisters and my four brothers shared a room when i was growing up.

There is myself and 5 dc in a 3 bed house

Housing came out to measure Walls. Waiting for overcrowding assessment outcome. BUT I sleep in the lounge. There is a gas fire so they weren't happy. Might have to be moved.

It'll be 2 adults and 5 children in 2 bedrooms. Not council. She is a very close friend and I want to be supportive of her decisions but she has asked this question a couple of times and personally it sounds way too much to me. Thought it might help to get some perspective from those with large families themselves.

I worked with the last of 6 boys who lived in a one bed tenement flat in the 60's in Glasgow - 3 double beds - one for his folks and two for the 6 boys. He's turned out fine with a normal family and successful career. I agree that under 5's count as a half- I have mine shoved in various cupboards around our flat

Not illegal - counted as "natural overcrowding" - ie she's had the kids since she moved there so it wouldn't be counted as a landlord's fault (or hers). Though could possibly be a breach of tenancy if she rents from a private landlord - but unlikely they'd evict her I'd have thought.

Sounds pretty crowded though!

She could apply for council housing if she likes - would get some priority for being so badly crowded. 2 parents and 5 kids would normally be considered to need a 4 bedroomed house (2 kids per room, and the odd one on their own). They might not count the baby until it's born, or possibly only when it's a year old.

A friend of mine had two bedrooms upstairs but a reception room and a study downstairs, so she turned the study into a third bedroom. Could your friend do something like this? Or have the youngest two in with them? Or even keep her clothes etc in the bedroom she's currently in and have a sofa-bed in the lounge that she uses?

Otherwise, whilst they're young I think it's fine, but I would suggest she has an action plan of how and when to find a bigger place for when they're older.