bedroom sharing

[brysmama]

Is it legal for my daughter (3 years old) and my boyfriends son (4 years old) to share a bedroom? If so, when does it become illegal?

[Cypruslover]

....... why WOULDNT it be legal:? Theres no problem.

I cant see why youre asking to be quite honest

[yummymummy]

I seem to remember there being some guidance that it is OK up until about 7 or 8, but not sure if it is actually illegal? Cant see the police storming your house about it!

[ursula62]

There's no law about this in the UK - but if you are in housing association or council accommodation then once the children reach puberty you can apply for larger living quarters.

[Mistopheles]

Certainly not illegal. Just make sure they are seperated before they hit puberty - they'll want their own space then.

[nfn]

when I was pregnant with twins my local council told me a brother and sister could share a bedroom until they are 13! Social Services however set the age at (from memory so I may be wrong to 1 year) 11. At 3 and 4 there is certainly no reason at all why they shouldn't share a room. My son shares with his female cousin and they're both 5, in fact they insist on their beds being pushed together, there's NOTHING sinister in this, they just don't see each other very often (once or twice a year) and want to be close for as long as possible.

[lauralane]

What a silly question. Did you honestly believe it would be illegal for a 3 and 4 year old to share a bedroom? Is this question a joke?

[lukey121]

Become illegal? Why would it ever become illegal? You can share a bedroom with anyone you want. There are no laws about this.

[nfn]

lukey there are laws about bedroom sharing for girls/boys under the age of 16, with good reason. I'm just not completely certain what the cut off age is!

[ursula62]

nfn - there are no laws in the UK regarding bedroom sharing between siblings of different sexes in private accommodation, even after one of the siblings turns 16.

There are guidelines issued by individual local social services, but there is no law. The guidelines state that children over the age of 12 should not share a room if they are of different genders, but this only applies if you are in council, housing association or similar social accommodation.

[ursula62]

However, if you foster a child privately, then this is covered by the Children Act 1989:

"1.4.31 The assessment should also include living and sleeping facilities and the effect of possible overcrowding. Where a child is to share a bedroom with another member of the household, particular attention should be given to ensuring that the arrangements will not be prejudicial to his welfare. It is essential for a child to have his own bed. Under normal circumstances a private foster child, over the age of two, should not share a bedroom with a teenager, the private foster carer or other adult member of the household."

So, in conclusion, you can let your own natural child share a bedroom until he or she is an adult, but a foster child cannot share a bedroom with a teenage sibling after the age of two.

What a mixed up world we live in where one child has more rights than another because of an accident of birth!

[joannaddd]

pls help as i am getting no were with the council norwich i live in a small 2 bed flat with my husband and 2 teenage children my boy is 16 and 6ft 3 and my daughter is 18 , my husband and i share the box room and the kids share the big bedroom i have been onto the council on numerous occasions regarding this but they just don't care the thing is my son was in foster care (pls no rude comments as no one knows the circumstances surrounding this ) the social services decided to send him home but is still officially looked after by the social services until the age of 18 , i can't get child benefit for him and they pay him an allowance each week .what i need to know is i know there is guidelines regarding children in care sharing a bedroom with anyone , if my son is still under the social services surely this still applies to him ? is it against the law for children to share a bedroom with an adult my daughter is now classed as an adult surley they are breaking the law

[lorraine_i]

joannaddd
you might like to get in touch with a local, independend advocacy service for children classed as looked after by social services. i found the following for Norfolk:
http://www.voiceyp.or...lic/default.asp?id=94

[Nicola_Day1293]

Hi I am just wondering if anyone here knows if there is a rule about me and my fiancé sharing a room with my sister as he has been kicked out of his flat for reasons and we are both now sleeping in my family home where we have to share a room with my sister who is 7 but someone my mum was talking to has said that this is not aloud can someone please help me out