Can a foster child share a bedroom? Fostering regulations

This is a question that crops up time and time again during the fostering application process. Can a foster child share a bedroom? The simple answer is no. This means they cannot share a bedroom with you. They cannot share a bedroom with your birth children. They cannot share a bedroom with another fostered child. Nor can any other member of the family. 

Fostering regulation means that bedroom sharing is not allowed because every child placed in foster care must have their own private space. Having their own bedroom gives them a sense of safety, stability, and privacy, which is especially important for children who may have experienced trauma or upheaval. It also helps reduce the risk of conflict and ensures each child has a place where they can feel secure and unwind.

Fostered children sharing a bedroom is not permitted under fostering regulations. A foster child cannot share with you as their carer, with your own children, or with another foster child. The only exception is when siblings are placed together, and even then it will only be allowed if it is assessed as being in their best interests. 

What are the Bedroom Requirements?

To become a foster parent, you must have a spare bedroom. This will be checked during the assessment process, and without it, you cannot be approved as a carer. The rule exists to make sure that every child has a private, secure space of their own where they can feel safe and settled.

Fostering regulations also set out clear rules on bedroom sharing. In almost all cases, children in foster care cannot share a bedroom. The only exception is if siblings are placed together, and even then it must be carefully considered, usually matched by age and gender, and only if agreed by the child’s link worker or responsible authority.

Many people also ask if it matters whether you rent or own your home. The answer is no. The type of accommodation, house, flat, bungalow, or other, is not important either. What matters is that your home is secure, welcoming, and has the space a child needs, which includes a spare bedroom.

What About on Holiday?

Holidays are a little different to everyday fostering life. When travelling, it’s usually acceptable for foster children to share a hotel room, holiday cottage, or caravan with others, as long as the sleeping arrangements are safe, suitable, and approved in advance. For example, a child might share with their foster siblings if there are separate beds and the link worker has agreed. The important thing is that a foster child’s comfort and wellbeing remain the priority, even while away from home.

Because every situation is judged on what’s best for the child, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer here. This is why it’s important to always check before making holiday plans. Misunderstandings around things like this are common, and often crop up as part of the many foster care myths we hear from prospective carers.

Who Can Foster if a Spare Bedroom Is Needed?

Many people worry that not fitting a certain “family picture” might stop them from becoming a foster carer. The truth is, fostering is open to people from all kinds of backgrounds. You can be single, married, divorced, or living with a partner. You can be gay, straight, or bisexual. You don’t need to own your home, renting is absolutely fine. You don’t need to have children of your own, and age is rarely a barrier as long as you are over 21 and in good health.

What really matters is that you have the stability, patience, and compassion to support a child, along with a safe home that includes a spare bedroom. Having that bedroom is a non-negotiable requirement, but the rest is about your ability to care for a child who needs you.

If you’d like to see the full criteria, take a look at our Who Can Foster page, where we explain in more detail exactly what’s involved.

We hope this has helped to answer the question, “Can a foster child share a bedroom?” If you’re considering fostering and would like to know more about the regulations around bedroom requirements, our team is here to guide you. You can call us on 03300 948816, use the live chat on our website, send us a message on Facebook, or visit our contact page to get in touch.

If you’re still exploring your motivations, you might also find our Why Foster page helpful, as it explains the many rewarding reasons people choose to begin their fostering journey.