The case for a national rent guarantor and deposit scheme for care leavers aged 18-24 in England

Type Policy and research document

Author
Nicola Smith
Published on
6 December 2023

All young people need a safe and stable home to start their adult lives, and this is particularly true for young people leaving foster care or a children’s home.

Despite the importance of housing for care leavers, evidence shows that many struggle to find suitable accommodation in the early years after leaving care. It is estimated that one in three become homeless in the first two years immediately after they leave care, and one in four homeless people have been in care at some point in their lives.

This report sets out the case for introducing a requirement on local authorities to run a rent guarantor and rent deposit scheme which would help care leavers access a greater range of properties in the private rented sector.