Questions answered
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Can I live on my own at 16?
Thanks for your email on independent living. Unfortunately, living alone at any point in your life is not as straight forward and problem free as it might at first seem, and this is especially true when you are young.
If you are 16/17 and on your own (without an adult living with you) local authorities would not normally house you in independent accommodation. Offers of accommodation via applications to local authorities or housing associations would normally only be made once an applicant is 18 or older. If a 16/17 year old becomes homeless and they cannot return to their parents/guardian and the Social Services department has a duty to provide organise appropriate supported accommodation. One of the types of support might be 24 hours a day or for a shorter time each day, and is there to provide advice and assistance on life skills; cooking, shopping, washing clothes, paying bills and healthy living.
This type of support is provided because it has been our experience that if a young person is re-housed into unsupported accommodation, within 6 months they cannot cope because of:
- Financial problems; they find it hard to budget paying for rent, food bills, council tax, water rates, electricity, gas, telephone, insurance, TV licence, travel costs and furniture BEFORE paying for the lifestyle they really want clothes, Sky Television, CD’s/DVD’s, haircuts, trainers; and clubbing, drinks and cigarettes. The reality of the situation is that if you do not pay the ESSENTIAL bills you could be evicted/ if you do not eat and sleep properly your health will suffer/ any debts you create will probably follow you around.
- Friends wanting parties “at yours” which then go on longer than you expected, and are noisier than you thought causing the neighbours more aggravation than you expected, which can lead to your landlord serving you with notice to terminate your tenancy.
- There are also other problems if you have not got the support of your parents/guardian/an adult; who will give you advice about problems at work/ with your benefit claims for job seekers allowance/housing benefit; where is the water stop tap; how do you rewire a plug; will you microwave all your meals; what do you do if you get toothache/have an accident?
- Can you cope with being on your own 24 hours a day?
- What do you need to start a home? Furniture, beds, bedding, fridge, cooker, kitchen pots and pans (takeaways are expensive), curtains, carpets, kettle, towels, crockery, etc and there are lots of 'etc's.
SO to answer your question if you have the life skills and a lot of money to live alone, and you can control your mates; the answer to your question is yes, BUT you are probably much better off staying with your parents/guardian. I would imagine you are probably disappointed with my reply, but have a think and discuss it with your friends and even possibly your parents/guardian and if you have any other questions just send me an email.
Having read this reply is there anything you want to ask? Contact details below.
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