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!

I personally wouldn't let to a 16 year - they are too young.

Legally a sixteen year old is a MINOR - a child. Anyone in the whole of the U.K. which includes Scotland is considered to be a CHILD and defined by the United Nations if they are under 18.

You might not like it but they have full legal capacity at 16.

If you find yourself lashing out with similar comments again because you’re ‘cross’ then you should learn some techniques to help you cope with your emotions.

Yes but if you look at how the rights of the child are being implemented you will see it is giving the considerable autonomy to make their own choices. Not requiring them to be mollycoddled by parents.

But importantly and perhaps fundamentally a child - anyone aged 18 or under can not sign a credit agreement, can not even open a full bank account and therefore will require a parent in this case to do it for them.
End of story.
They are not an adult with full legal and financial responsibilities, not even in Bonny Scotland.

And unless op has VERY deep pockets I would strongly suggest she does not sign to be a guarantor in this situation. She could lose thousands of pounds very easily if anything is damaged or in a poor state of repair.

Is there no way to give him more space at home for a couple of years? Swapping rooms around, if he shares with a sibling then you giving him your room and putting a sofa bed in the livingroom for example? If he saves what he would be spending on rent over a couple of years he'd be able to buy somewhere of his own instead of throwing it away on renting and never having somewhere of his own. I only wish my own mum would have sat me down and encouraged me to do the same, at 31 there's no chance of me getting on the property ladder anytime soon.

They have full legal capacity. They cannot enter into a credit agreement - that is correct.

What’s with the Bonny Scotland?

He has his own room however it is an attic space with quite a low ceiling, I share my room with my daughter.

He would be better off saving for his own place by giving you some rent and board and saving some.

@snoopyshoose thank you I'm aware of that given that I also don't live in England... I did miss ops comment about living in Scotland.

Could and should are still two different issues though. Op would supported accommodation be an option where he'd have his own space and could come and go etc but there would be staff and he could 'practice' living independently but with a safety net? Might be a better compromise though generally that's for young people who really can't sustain living at home and spaces can be limited.

I’d be surprised if you don’t have to be a guarantor for him and you could end up with a bill for damages or even unpaid rent- I know he’s responsible but he could overspend.

As others have said, I’d encourage him to wait a bit longer before he moves out.

Im surprised by all the hysteria around this. Many 16yos are at uni and living in rented accommodation during term-time. They usually go back in the holidays but it sounds like OPs son would have a lot of support from her - more than if he were at uni in a different city - so I don’t see why it’s such a big deal. As long as OP is in good contact with him it seems really manageable to me.

Many 16yos are at uni and living in rented accommodation during term-time.

I thought that most students in Scotland started university at 17 rather than 16?

@GentleOliveFatball another point to consider is tenancies are often for a minimum of 12 months. If after three or four months your DS wants to return home he would still be liable for the rent (or the guarantor would if he can't pay)

😆

@RampantIvy - it depends. If they stay on for S6, about half will be 17, half will be 18. If they leave after S5, about half will be 16. It’s increasingly common to stay for S6 but still a lot go to uni after S5. If you want to get into a competitive course in a top uni you may need S6 qualifications (unless you’re in a school in a more deprived area), but other wise otherwise if you do well in S5 you will have the qualifications you need. I would say most Scottish students are 17 or even 18 when they start uni, but it’s not at all unusual to start at 16.

But she didnt live independently, she was totally dependent on the bank of mum and dad!

Many care leavers end up on the streets sadly.

@TerfsWereRight They would also be in university or privately managed halls of residence, not renting from some random landlord.

@Lavender14
Op would supported accommodation be an option where he'd have his own space and could come and go etc but there would be staff and he could 'practice' living independently but with a safety net?
what? supported living is for people with SEN, it's not something you can just pay for, how odd you think this 🤷🏼‍♀️

None of the things that you mentioned in your post appear in that screenshot.

And it’s even more worrying now, as there is no landlord registration number in that advert so it’s illegal.

I repeat what I said before , if what you posted before about the property he has been offered is correct, then he should take the lease and get advice from shelter or CAB.

Not necessarily - they can live where they want.

Whereas the Scottish education system would have you believe that people can miraculously change sex!

Legally children become adults in Scotland on their 18th birthday.
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/articles/milestonesjourneyingintoadulthood/2019-02-18#:~:text=From%20the%20age%20of%2016,the%20eyes%20of%20the%20law.

Does it? None of my children have been told that.