Can I Foster if I Rent My Home?

Can I foster if I am renting?

With Ireland in the throes of a housing crisis, it has become considerably more difficult to own your own home. As such, more and more people are living in rental accommodation, rather than buying their own house.

In the last few years, we have noticed an uptick in questions about renting and fostering in Ireland. One of the common misconceptions about fostering is that you need to own your home to foster – this is not the case. So long as you can provide a stable home to the young person in your care, you can foster. Read on to find out more about renting and fostering.

If you’re interested in foster care, please reach out to Orchard Fostering today. We’re available on the phone or via email – you can also fill out a form directly on our contact page.

Can I foster a child while renting?

The short answer to this question is yes, you can foster a child while renting. Being a renter is not a barrier to becoming a foster carer. You will most likely have to consult with your landlord about bringing another person into the property – but once this conversation has been had, there are very few differences between fostering in your own and fostering in a rented property.

In order to foster a child while renting you need to meet the following criteria:

Permission from your landlord to foster a child in their property.
Evidence that your rent is secured long-term by your landlord.
A spare room for the young person in your care.
The ability to provide a safe, nurturing and caring environment for the young person in your care.

If you can tick these three boxes, you will be well on your way to fostering while renting.

Do I need my own property to be a foster carer?

You do not need to own a property to be a foster carer. If you can provide a stable and caring environment in which a young person can flourish, you can foster – whether you own the house or not. You will go through the same processes as any other carer, including our standardised initial home visit – designed to evaluate your home for foster care suitability, as well as conducting a safety compliance check to ensure complete safety of the child in your care. These checks will be carried out with your landlord’s permission.

What do I need to foster a child while renting?

Providing a stable living environment is a major requirement when fostering a child. If you can create a home in which a child feels safe, nurtured and well cared for, then you are well on your way to being an impactful foster carer. One way to achieve a comforting and relaxing environment for the young person in your care is to provide them with their own room.

Your child’s comfort and safety are paramount in foster care and so providing them with a room of their own is essential. Having a spare room is a major requirement if you are renting and fostering. You can read more about spare room requirements here.

Can I be a foster carer if I am house-sharing?

Unfortunately, you cannot be a foster carer if you are sharing a house with someone who is not a partner or family member. To learn more about the fostering application process and the dos and don’ts of fostering, take a look at our article about the assessment process.