The myth that puts people off
A lot of people assume that because fostering involves caring for a child in your home, you must own that home. It is one of the most common reasons people talk themselves out of enquiring with an agency before they have even picked up the phone.
The truth is that there is no legal requirement to own your property. What matters is that you have a stable, suitable home with enough space for a child. Whether you own it or rent it is secondary.
The key requirement is having a spare bedroom that can be dedicated to the child. Beyond that, the main practical step for renters is getting written permission from their landlord.
What you will need from your landlord
If you rent and want to foster, you will need written permission from your landlord before your fostering assessment can be completed. This is not a negotiation or a formal legal process. It is simply a letter or email from your landlord confirming that they are happy for a foster child to live in the property.
Most landlords agree without any issue. From their perspective, nothing changes about the tenancy. The foster carer remains the tenant. The child is a resident in the home, not a new tenant.
If your landlord is uncertain, it can help to explain that fostering agencies work closely with foster families throughout the placement. The agency will want to visit the home regularly, which means there is ongoing professional oversight. Some landlords find this reassuring.
What if your landlord says no?
It does happen occasionally. If your landlord refuses, it does not necessarily mean the end of the road.
First, it is worth having a conversation to understand their concern. Some landlords worry about damage to the property, about insurance, or simply about the unknown. Many of these concerns can be addressed with a clear explanation of how fostering works.
If your landlord still refuses after that conversation, you have a few options. You could look at moving to a property with a more flexible landlord. Some people also use this moment to think seriously about their longer-term housing plans. A fostering agency can talk you through your options.
What you should not do is give up on fostering altogether on the basis of one landlord's decision.
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Check my eligibility →Does the size of your home matter?
Yes, to a degree. The main requirement is a spare bedroom for the foster child. Beyond that, agencies look at whether the home is suitable for the age and needs of the child you are being considered for.
A small flat in a city can be entirely appropriate for fostering an older teenager. A larger house with a garden may be better suited to younger children or sibling groups. The agency will talk through what placements might work well for your home during the assessment process.
You do not need a large property. You need a safe, warm, stable home with a bedroom the child can call their own.
Does the type of tenancy matter?
Most tenancy types are acceptable. Whether you are on an assured shorthold tenancy, a periodic tenancy, or a longer fixed-term agreement, none of those structures prevent you from fostering.
What agencies do look at is stability. If you are mid-way through a tenancy that ends in six weeks and you have no certainty about what happens next, that could be a concern. Agencies want to know that any child placed with you will have a stable home for the duration of the placement.
If you have a stable, ongoing tenancy with no imminent plans to move, this is unlikely to be an issue at all.
What about social housing?
People in social housing can also become foster carers. The same principles apply. You will need written permission from your landlord, which in this case would be your housing association or local council.
Some housing associations have experience of this and have straightforward processes in place. Others may take a little longer to respond. It is worth contacting them early in the process so it does not hold up your assessment.
People also ask
The bottom line
Renting is not a barrier to fostering. Thousands of foster carers across England rent their homes. What matters is that you have a stable tenancy, a spare bedroom, and a landlord who is willing to give written permission.
If you have been putting off enquiring because you assumed renting ruled you out, it does not. The best thing you can do is take the first step and find out where you stand.
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