DS (16) wants to move out

[GentleOliveFatball]

Hello, my 16 year old son wants to move out and rent a house with a friend (who is 18) They are both responsible and my son has been keen to move out for a while. (We get along fine, but our home is very small and now he's getting older I think he struggles with not having much of his own space/space for when friends visit.)
I trust both my son and his friend, they have spent months researching and saving money. Between them they can cover rent, food, bills etc for a small two bedroom semi-detached house, walking distance from where they both work.

However I'm worried that landlords will not rent to them because my son is only 16. I don't mind signing the tenancy agreement if I have to, however I don't know if I can since I won't be living there?

My son is still only looking, and I'm aware I must do more of my own research however any advice would be appreciated.
We live in Scotland by the way.
Thank you!

You will probably need to be guarantor, it's not impossible to get a private rental at that age but the landlord will want to meet them and you.

It's not unheard of people leaving home at 16, you said he has a job - i presume he left education in June of this year? Is his job secure, an apprenticeship or something? Does he earn enough to cover his half of rent and bills and also have a life?

Despite what MN seems to think, not every young adult wants or needs to live at home until they start greying. How did we get to a place where people find it horrifying that an older teen in the workforce is looking forward to independent life?

There is a huge difference between leaving an unhappy home out of a desperation to be anywhere else (which does put a young person at risk of getting into a bad situation) and a young adult who is in the workforce ready to have more independence. If OP’s son is out of school and working alongside adults he likely is starting to feel more like them than a child. Living in a house share in town doesn’t mean he’s trying to flee from his family or cut them off or that parents can’t still play a role in his life.

OP, if he’s working then realistically you won’t be able to stop him. He and his friend may have some trouble finding a private landlord who will lease to them, but they’ll likely get there eventually, especially if they can save up decent deposits. I would focus on keeping a foot in as an advisor he’ll (hopefully) listen to, asking if he’ll sit down with you and figure out what a budget would look like now vs what he could save over the next year or two years. I would probably want him to save up several months of rent (at least) to be held in a separate account before even considering being a guarantor

Good on you! I see no issue with a sensible 16 year old with a job moving out. He’ll turn into a responsible adult far quicker than someone who lives at home until they’re 30 and has never had to change so much as a toilet roll!

There's a reason why you need to be 18 to be able to have a tenancy in your own name op. I don't think this is a good idea either. It would mean he's essentially living under the 18 year old tenancy and that means he'd have much less protection should issues arise with the landlord or the 18 year old. Plus as a child it could trigger a SS referral. I would be duty bound in my job to make a referral for a 16 year old left living alone.

I would be encouraging him to save as hard as he can now living with you and then move out at 18. The longer he lives with you the more chance he has to save to one day be able to buy a car/ house/ get married/ pay towards college etc which is becoming increasingly difficult especially due to high rent prices.

FFS, England. Can't raise your own kids to be competent adults, but never short of an irrelevant, inaccurate opinion about countries and cultures you know nothing about.

From Shelter Scotland:

@Lavender14
There's a reason why you need to be 18 to be able to have a tenancy in your own name maybe where you live, England isn't the only country in the world 🤷🏼‍♀️

I ran my father’s house after we lost my mum and I moved into my own home at 18. It’s utter nonsense that people of this age can’t be independent. No need for mollycoddling as seems to be xpected on here.

@Flubadubba your post was so sensible until it got to this part

So....in a way. There is a requirement to be in education or training (including apprenticeships) until 18. You can't do nothing

No one monitors it, there is not funding for enforcement. You certainly can do nothing, or work without training.

@GentleOliveFatball @Artistbythewater a 16 year old in scotland is fully and legally entitled to rent a house. scotland they are classed as adults at 16! leave school, get married, have sex, have babies, join the army! the only thing they cannot do is independently open a bank account!! I actually knew a 16 year old schoolboy who was given a flat and have his rent paid by the council!! all due to family circumstances!

Very true.. my son is in this situation its not chased you at all.

Especially since OP said she's in Scotland!

I have a 17 year old DC in Scotland who works, the job is available to 16 years old. Clears 2k a month - plenty of 2 bedroom flats for < £1k a month. They could pay their share and have plenty left over.

How do you pay the bills without a bank account?

How do you sign a credit agreement unless you are an adult?

What you are really saying is the parents have to be a guarantor, and sign the agreement. In rare cases I imagine 16 year olds are housed by the council. This is not standard.
What if he loses his job next week? Or can’t manage the huge bills?

Good on him.
I would have been a different person now, if this was a possibility in my time and country.

I don't see a problem, so long as he knows he can come back at any time.

@Artistbythewater
Why would a 16 yr old not have a bank account? do you think everyone has go bloody henry until they're 25?
Honestly the pps on here whose DC are treated like toddlers.

To add, 16 is an adult in Scotland as that is where OP is, England isn't the centre of the universe!!
@Artistbythewater

My DS has worked full time since 16 - no one follows up on the education piece as long as you are not claiming benefits.

Yes GS is earning £12.50 an hour as a lifeguard. He does work long hours but picks up £2k some months and could well afford rent where we live.

My kids had bank accounts before they were 16 but if a 16 is working I'd think they would have a bank account.

My DD is 16, still at school but has a job that pays over £12.50 per hour - she could be doing this if she left school and earning enough to pay rent. I am in Scotland, I had a friend who left school at 16 due to family circumstances, lived in a rented property and paid her own bills through part time work whilst studying at night, she is now a deputy head teacher. I was only 17 when I left school and home to go to Uni and rented a flat - what is the difference between moving out for uni and living on your own? You still have a "family" home to return to either way.

OP, I think it's fine!

You live nearby, for 'emergencies'. You trust him. He has a job. He can afford the bills etc. To be honest, it sounds great! Good luck to him.

I think people don't understand how different Scotland is. Over 16s can refuse any contact between their parents and school, sign consents for school trips and 12 year olds sign photograph consents. It is the norm to let secondary pupils off the premises at lunchtime. There is much less angst about children walking home. In general our children are more independent judging by posts on here.

OP has said that living conditions are not ideal at home, I presume that means overcrowded. So it seems reasonable for him to move out. She can still support him

Of course it is possible to rent before 18. Loads of students do, loads of careleavers do, as do many people who have simply moved out of the family home for whatever reason. Honestly, I think some posters on mumsnet have never had any experience of the real world.