Can a 16 year old Legally rent in a flat-share?

poshbloke

My bro is 16 and wants to rent in a flatshare in the London area. He has his parent's permission to leave home (doesn't need it anyway).
Money is not a problem at the moment, so I can provide him the rent-money while his education carries on. (on top of that he's entitled to things like child income support)

But is it legal for a 16 yr old to just join a flatshare?
And, in practise, do the majority of flat-share hosts accept 16 year olds?
any tips on increasing his chances of an acceptance?

Thanks!!

steve1980

To sign the agreement he would need to be 18.

Dunroamin

I don't think that many people in their late teens and twenties would want to share with someone of that age.

Don't you think that he'd be better off in lodgings?

poshbloke

right. Yet many flat-share ads i've seen (or at least the ages specified on flatshare websites) say, 'looking for student, 16+'

and things like that..

so if he can't sign the agreement, is it like a grey-area in the law...
so many of these sites start from 16 in the age lists...
im confused!

jamie11

poshbloke wrote: »

My bro is 16 and wants to rent in a flatshare in the London area. He has his parent's permission to leave home (doesn't need it anyway).
Money is not a problem at the moment, so I can provide him the rent-money while his education carries on. (on top of that he's entitled to things like child income support)

But is it legal for a 16 yr old to just join a flatshare?
And, in practise, do the majority of flat-share hosts accept 16 year olds?
any tips on increasing his chances of an acceptance?

A 16 year old cannot be held to a contract while he is below his majority. I feel most landlords would not accept him.

I deliberately did not say he could not sign a contract because, of course, he could but it would have no effect if he walked away., Neither would any guarantor for him have to pay up.

19lottie82

There is nothing "illegal" about your brother living in a flatshare but Technically a 16 year old cannot sign a legal agreement but if you found someone who was willing to share with him, and everything was done by the bool then you would have to act as a guarantor.

My friend let out her flat to a pair of students via a letting agency, one of them was 17 but the agency accepted her patents as a guarantor.

poshbloke

I see. So if he wants to leave home, and money isn't too much of an object at the mo..

what would you do?

Don't you think that he'd be better off in lodgings?

we don't really know any relatives or anyone like that..
I thought the only option was a house-share

DVardysShadow

http://england.shelter.org.uk/professional_resources/policy_and_practice/policy_library/policy_library_folder/tenancies_for_minors

Summary

Many social landlords refuse to let to 16- and 17-year-olds altogether, either because they are concerned that minors cannot hold a tenancy, or they are concerned that they cannot be held liable for rent. Where landlords do let to 16- and 17-year-olds, they often impose conditions, such as insisting upon a guarantor.
This briefing explains that, although there are some complications, the law allows 16- and 17-year-olds to hold tenancies, and that they can be held liable under contracts for 'necessaries', including rent. It looks at steps landlords can take to ensure that 16- and 17-year-olds' tenancies are successful.

Looks like there is mileage in this, legally at least.

teeni

As the post above a 16 year old can hold a tenancy or any other contract for necessities of life. The reality is that many landlords that rent through agencies will not accept a 16 year old as a tenant.
A bit of research through the local authority housing options office or local colleges should identify decent landlords or agency's that will help.