Where you will live
Accommodation at 18 years of age
Your accommodation needs should be planned with your social worker before you turn 18. This means you will have a pathway plan in place, which includes all options that best support your own situation.
Semi-Independent accommodation
A home in a shared house or group of single flats with support workers who are available to support you during the day and at night, even if they are not based there. If you are in Foster Care and it is agreed by you, your carer and your social worker that the best thing for you is to stay living with your foster carer after you turn 18, you will be given the option of Staying Put until you are 21.
A copy of the Staying Put policy is available from your PA or through the Care Leaver App. Please talk to your PA.
Staying Close
Keeping in touch for support with making the transition to independent living may be possible with your children’s home after you stop living there. This depends to some extent on your location after you leave.
Permanent Housing
Care leavers can apply for permanent social housing in Hounslow. Each application is then assessed, and the young person will be placed on a list to await a direct offer of their own Council flat. It is unlikely that you will be offered your permanent accommodation before the age of 20 due to limited housing availability. Hounslow’s housing team will work closely with your worker to make sure you are aware of all the housing options that are available to you.
Download Hounslow’s housing allocation policy.
You will only receive one offer of permanent accommodation and if you choose to reject this you will then be considered to be intentionally homeless and we will be unable to support you further in securing social housing. Housing support will be offered when you sign your new tenancy.
Paying for rent and accommodation
When you turn 18 you are expected to pay towards your own rent and accommodation whether you are a student, working or claiming benefits
If you are receiving Universal Credit, you can be assisted by your PA to apply for your rent to be paid from your Universal Credit payment direct to your landlord without it coming to you first. This will help you manage this payment better.
In some special circumstances the Leaving Care Team might be able to pay towards your accommodation costs. Contact us to find out more.
Moving Costs
The Leaving Care Team will support with the cost of moving home whilst you are in semi-independent accommodation and also with your move to your permanent home.
Setting up home allowance
You will receive £3,000 to buy furniture and appliances for your home.
Council tax support
All care leavers are exempt from paying council tax up to age 21. Visit our website to find out more.
For full information on Hounslow’s financial support package for care leavers, including costs related to your education, you can ask your PA to send you the ‘Care Leavers Financial Support Guide’.
A copy of the Care Leavers Financial Support Guide policy is available through the Care Leavers’ App.
Your financial support payments will also be set out in your Pathway Plan.
