The Student Room Group

Can I move out at 16 without my parents' permission?

Please read, Im really not sure what to do here.

I've got an awful family (without going into detail, I've had to go through every kind of abuse you can think of) and I want to get out of here as soon as possible.

I've told others about some of the abuse in the past, the Social Services have even come round, but its always the same. my family will all deny what happened and it doesn't do any good in the long run. Due to fear of their repercussions, I have not told anyone about the worst of the abuse (like I said, don't want to go into detail but it's f***ing sick and screwed-up.)

However, luckily my education is going quite well, and so I am applying to university early (I see it as an escape, but of course i have not told my parents that). I have looked at the entrance requirements, and Ive already got the right qualifications to get into some good universities, not exactly Oxbridge level but hardly thames valley either.

If I wait til going to university and then tell a counsellor all about the abuse, what are the chances they will be able to help me? could I break off contact with my family and refuse to go home again, considering I wouldnt turn 18 till halfway through my degree? How would doing that affect getting student finance?

Or should I wait till I finish university? -but I don't even want to go home for the holidays, and my parents are so volatile I wouldn't be surprised if they suddenly refused to fill in the student finance forms!

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Reply 1
At 16 you can legally move away from home. So just do that if you can.
Ohhhh hunny!Thats bad. I cant really offer you any advice but be strong, and just stick with it, things can only get better for you xxx
You can yes, I moved out at 16. You will either have to rent 52 weeks outside of uni accomodation or find somewhere else to go in the holidays (what im going to have to do).
You're actually not legally allowed to leave home if you are 16. You need your parent's permission. If you leave without permission your parents can go to court to have you returned home.

Can't you phone Childline or the NSPCC? They may be able to help you more than your council's Social Services department. I can't believe that your social services department is being so unhelpful.
smellslikemarmite
You're actually not legally allowed to leave home if you are 16. You need your parent's permission. If you leave without permission your parents can go to court to have you returned home.

Can't you phone Childline or the NSPCC? They may be able to help you more than your council's Social Services department. I can't believe that your social services department is being so unhelpful.


I'm pretty sure you can legally leave home at 16 in England but then again the OP might be in Scotland because of their age going to university.

OP, move out if you want but make sure you have it figured out well so you're not ending up homeless or anything. And it might be a good idea to move out and then tell your parents you've moved out a few days later when you're safe because otherwise they can report you as a missing person and it'll lead to all sorts of hassle.

Good luck with whatever you do.
blueshoes123
I'm pretty sure you can legally leave home at 16 in England but then again the OP might be in Scotland because of their age going to university.

OP, move out if you want but make sure you have it figured out well so you're not ending up homeless or anything. And it might be a good idea to move out and then tell your parents you've moved out a few days later when you're safe because otherwise they can report you as a missing person and it'll lead to all sorts of hassle.

Good luck with whatever you do.


http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/family_parent/housing/young_people_and_housing.htm#Leavinghomevoluntarily

You can only do it with your parent's permission. Given the level of abuse from the OPs parents I doubt they'll let her.

OP should speak to Childline or the NSPCC.
Reply 7
smellslikemarmite
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/family_parent/housing/young_people_and_housing.htm#Leavinghomevoluntarily

You can only do it with your parent's permission. Given the level of abuse from the OPs parents I doubt they'll let her.

OP should speak to Childline or the NSPCC.


Thanks very much, that link was really helpful! Especially this:

"In most circumstances you can leave home without the consent of your parents or anyone with parental responsibility when you are 16. A parent or person with parental responsibility could go to court to try and force you to return home. However, it is unlikely that any court would order you to return home if you did not want to."

Since of course "unlikely" isn't the same as "definitely", and because of how dangerous my family situation is, then as you said I don't want to run even a slight risk of being made to go home. I'm not sure if calling NSPCC/Childline would help but I'll give it a shot as soon as I can be sure my parents won't be able to find out.

On the other hand, I worry about having to return home for the holidays, if I do stay in contact with them till I leave university, Also, what if, one year, they might refuse to fill in the student finance forms? (Can I pay my own way through university or take out a loan before I turn 18??)
Reply 8
*definitely not
Anonymous
Thanks very much, that link was really helpful! Especially this:

"In most circumstances you can leave home without the consent of your parents or anyone with parental responsibility when you are 16. A parent or person with parental responsibility could go to court to try and force you to return home. However, it is unlikely that any court would order you to return home if you did not want to."

Since of course "unlikely" isn't the same as "definitely", and because of how dangerous my family situation is, then as you said I don't want to run even a slight risk of being made to go home. I'm not sure if calling NSPCC/Childline would help but I'll give it a shot as soon as I can be sure my parents won't be able to find out.

On the other hand, I worry about having to return home for the holidays, if I do stay in contact with them till I leave university, Also, what if, one year, they might refuse to fill in the student finance forms? (Can I pay my own way through university or take out a loan before I turn 18??)


Are you in Scotland?
Reply 10
smellslikemarmite
Are you in Scotland?


No, and I'm probably not applying to any universities there either. Would that make a difference?
Anonymous
No, and I'm probably not applying to any universities there either. Would that make a difference?


I don't know what the system is in England, but if you're in Scotland you need evidence of your parent's income. If you want to cut all ties with your parents, then you need to be in the care of the local authority or a voluntary organisation for three months before your 18th birthday for the student finance body to disregard your parents expected contribution from your total uni funds.
However I don't know if the English student finance system works the same way - i.e. if you are in care for 3 months before your 18th birthday, your parents income is disregarded when making an application for a student loan.

To be honest I think you should get one thing done at a time. Get out of home, get your parents behind bars (that's where they should be by the sounds of things) and get a stable and secure living arrangement. THEN think about uni.

Edit: If you want more info on student finance you could ask about it in the Student Finance sticky.
While you're thinking about leaving home, you need to think about the financial implications of this (if you haven't already).

You'll need money for accommodation, bills (if this isn't included in the rent), food, etc.

If your parents are unwilling to fill in the student finance forms, then you will still be entitled to the portion of the student loan that is not means-tested and any scholarships/bursaries your chosen university offers. There is also the option to apply to student finance as estranged from your parents, but as you aren't 18, I don't know whether that is applicable to you.

You could of course get a part-time job, but there may be a limit to what you can do because of your age, and it may affect your uni work.
smellslikemarmite
I don't know what the system is in England, but if you're in Scotland you need evidence of your parent's income. If you want to cut all ties with your parents, then you need to be in the care of the local authority or a voluntary organisation for three months before your 18th birthday for the student finance body to disregard your parents expected contribution from your total uni funds.
However I don't know if the English student finance system works the same way - i.e. if you are in care for 3 months before your 18th birthday, your parents income is disregarded when making an application for a student loan.

To be honest I think you should get one thing done at a time. Get out of home, get your parents behind bars (that's where they should be by the sounds of things) and get a stable and secure living arrangement. THEN think about uni.

Edit: If you want more info on student finance you could ask about it in the Student Finance sticky.


Has it changed because as far as I know you could always leave home at 16 in Scotland as you have slightly more rights hence all the 16 year olds from England running away and coming here to get married.

Are you sure that website isnt for England?
drbluebox
Has it changed because as far as I know you could always leave home at 16 in Scotland as you have slightly more rights hence all the 16 year olds from England running away and coming here to get married.

Are you sure that website isnt for England?


The website I provided is the Citizen's Advice Bureau, and the page applies to England and Wales, which is where the OP is from. Also the student finance rules are different in England.

16 year olds run away here to get married because you can only get married at 16 with your parent's permission in England but not so in Scotland.

You can leave home without any permission in Scotland, but as the OP has already said, she isn't in Scotland.
blueshoes123
I'm pretty sure you can legally leave home at 16 in England but then again the OP might be in Scotland because of their age going to university.

OP, move out if you want but make sure you have it figured out well so you're not ending up homeless or anything. And it might be a good idea to move out and then tell your parents you've moved out a few days later when you're safe because otherwise they can report you as a missing person and it'll lead to all sorts of hassle.

Good luck with whatever you do.


I agree
PhoenixFortune
While you're thinking about leaving home, you need to think about the financial implications of this (if you haven't already).

You'll need money for accommodation, bills (if this isn't included in the rent), food, etc.

If your parents are unwilling to fill in the student finance forms, then you will still be entitled to the portion of the student loan that is not means-tested and any scholarships/bursaries your chosen university offers. There is also the option to apply to student finance as estranged from your parents, but as you aren't 18, I don't know whether that is applicable to you.

You could of course get a part-time job, but there may be a limit to what you can do because of your age, and it may affect your uni work.


If they live on thier own it will be thiers, not their parents income that is important.



Incidentally - I would be interested to know how many of you living in England moved out at 16? I did, so I am failry sure what I did/did't have to do lol.

OP, with your lack of knowledge etc the best thing you can do is go to Social Services and lay your cards on the table: I'm leaving because you lot are useless. They will be obliged, at your age, to place you in temporary acommodation- then you will be entitled to income support/housing benefit until you go to uni, and as long as you are in full time education.
Reply 17
it is illegal for a young person under 18 to sign a tenancy agreement with a landlord or letting agent. This is a contract that states when you will pay the rent, what you can and cannot do in a property and it also outlines a agent or landlords responsibility in regard to fixing things that be get broken etc.
This is a contract that young people can have their parents go sign and the parents or carers can act as "guarantors" these are people who are responsible for ensuring that all rent gets paid and any damage that you might make is paid for by them
.
Reply 18
Original post by emelawford
it is illegal for a young person under 18 to sign a tenancy agreement with a landlord or letting agent. This is a contract that states when you will pay the rent, what you can and cannot do in a property and it also outlines a agent or landlords responsibility in regard to fixing things that be get broken etc.
This is a contract that young people can have their parents go sign and the parents or carers can act as "guarantors" these are people who are responsible for ensuring that all rent gets paid and any damage that you might make is paid for by them
.


This is from 2 years ago, I don't think it'll do much use to the OP now :p:
Reply 19
it is illegal for a young person under 18 to sign a tenancy agreement with a landlord or letting agent. This is a contract that states when you will pay the rent, what you can and cannot do in a property and it also outlines a agent or landlords responsibility in regard to fixing things that be get broken etc.
This is a contract that young people can have their parents go sign and the parents or carers can act as "guarantors" these are people who are responsible for ensuring that all rent gets paid and any damage that you might make is paid for by them.


I don't know if that would apply if you were moving into say a house with someone else who was over 18 or something though? I'm sure there are ways around this if you know the right people.