Yes. You can become a foster carer if you rent your home. One of the biggest misconceptions about fostering is that you need to own your property, but that’s not true. Many successful foster carers live in rented accommodation.
At South Gloucestershire Council, we’re looking for people who can provide a safe, stable and nurturing home for children and young people in care. Whether you rent or own your home is much less important than the environment you can offer a child.
Do you have to own your home to foster?
No. You do not need to own your home to become a foster carer. We welcome applications from homeowners, private tenants and people living in social housing.
What matters most is that your home is suitable for a child and that you can provide them with stability, care and support.
What are the requirements for foster carers who rent?
If you rent your home, you’ll usually need:
- A spare bedroom for a foster child
- A safe and suitable home environment
- Sufficient space for family life
- Permission from your landlord
As part of the assessment process, we’ll discuss your living arrangements and any permissions that may be needed.
Why do I need a spare bedroom?
Children and young people in care need their own space where they can feel safe, secure and settled.
Having a bedroom of their own helps children:
- Build a sense of belonging
- Have privacy when they need it
- Store their belongings safely
- Feel secure in their new home
During the assessment process, we’ll look at your available space and discuss the types of fostering that might be right for your household.
Does the size of my home matter?
Not necessarily. You don’t need a large house to foster. Many foster carers live in flats, terraced houses or smaller family homes.
What’s important is that your home is:
- Safe
- Comfortable
- Well maintained
- Suitable for a child or young person
Every household is different, and we assess each application individually.
What if I move house?
Moving house doesn’t automatically affect your ability to foster.
Many foster carers move during their fostering journey. If you’re planning a move, we’ll work with you to ensure any new property remains suitable for fostering and that any necessary checks are completed.
Are children placed close to home?
One of the benefits of fostering with South Gloucestershire Council is that we care for local children.
Wherever possible, we aim to keep children close to:
- Their school
- Friends
- Family members
- Communities they know
This helps children maintain important relationships and reduces disruption at an already difficult time in their lives.
What support will I receive?
When you foster with South Gloucestershire Council, you’ll receive:
- A dedicated supervising social worker
- 24/7 support
- Comprehensive training
- Access to the Mockingbird support network
- Therapeutic support through WAYPOINT
- Regular coffee mornings and support groups
- Family events throughout the year
You’ll be part of a supportive fostering community from day one.
More questions about fostering?
This article is part of our Fostering FAQs, where you’ll find answers to other common questions, including:
- Can I foster if I’m single?
- Can I foster if I have children?
- Can I foster if I work full-time?
- Can I foster if I have pets?
- How much do foster carers get paid?
- What support do foster carers receive?
View all Frequently Asked Questions
Find out more about fostering
If you’d like to find out more about fostering with South Gloucestershire Council, we’d love to hear from you.
If you’d like to find out more about fostering with South Gloucestershire Council, we’d love to hear from you.
Call: 01454 866423
Email: foster@southglos.gov.uk
All fostering enquiries are handled first by our partners, Fostering South West (also known as the regional hub). The hub brings together enquiries for all local authorities across the South West. They aim to contact you within two days of your enquiry for an initial chat to help you decide whether fostering is right for you. If it is, the hub passes your enquiry to us (South Gloucestershire Council), and we support you through the rest of your fostering journey.
