Leaving home can be both an exciting and scary event. Many young people are able to plan when they leave and can prepare the things they need, whereas other young people leave home quickly without much time to think.

Think about why you want to leave home

Living on your own or in a shared house is not always easy. If you're thinking of leaving home because of an argument with your family, see if you can talk about it and come to a compromise which makes living together easier. If you have to leave home, try to give yourself as much time as possible to plan where you'll live as it can take time to find somewhere.

When can I leave home?

If you're under 16 you can’t normally leave home unless there is a serious problem like violence or abuse. If this is the case for you, contact Social Services or your Personal Adviser immediately.

If you’re 16 or 17 you can move out if your parents or guardians agree to it. If they don’t agree to you leaving but you feel that you cannot stay, talk to your Personal Adviser about the reasons and they'll be able to advise you about the best thing to do.

If you’re 18 or over you can leave home without anyone’s permission. Leaving home can give you freedom, independence and control.

BUT

Leaving home can also leave you feeling lonely, in debt and overwhelmed.

Before you leave home think about:

• Where you’re going to live.
• How much it will cost and how you will pay for it.
• How much money you'll have left after paying the rent to pay bills, to buy food and go out with friends.
• Who you can go to for advice and support if you need it.

If you do leave home and want to let your family and friends know you're alright but don’t want to speak to them directly or tell them where you are, Message Home is a free, confidential and non-traceable service that can pass on a message. The phone number is 0800 700 740; or you can email them messagehome@missingpeople.org.uk

Also you could check out our How To Live Away From Home leaflet.