Do I Need a Spare Room to Foster?

Short answer: in almost all cases, yes—you’ll be expected to have a spare bedroom for any fostered child. That bedroom is about far more than furniture; it’s privacy, safety, and a sense of control at a time when life may feel upside-down. Below, we unpack the official guidance, what “spare room” actually means, when sharing might be allowed, and how local rules in places like Kent or Hounslow work in practice.

The short answer (and why it exists)

Fostering services across the UK expect carers to offer a separate, private bedroom to each fostered child. This aligns with the National Minimum Standards (NMS) for fostering, which say that each child over the age of three should have their own bedroom. Sharing can only be agreed after a careful assessment, recorded in writing, and signed off by the child’s responsible authority.

What the official guidance says

Under NMS Standard 10 (“Providing a suitable physical environment”), the foster home must “comfortably accommodate all who live there,” be warm, adequately furnished, and safe. Crucially, Standard 10.6 states: “In the foster home, each child over the age of three should have their own bedroom,” and if sharing is proposed, the service must consider risks (bullying, past abuse, wishes of the children) and document the decision.

What the public-facing government page says

The UK government’s overview for prospective foster parents is plainer: you usually need a spare bedroom. It’s part of the standard assessment to ensure you can provide a safe and suitable home.

What actually counts as a “spare room”?

It doesn’t have to be huge or designer-perfect; it must be a private, permanent bedroom that a child can call their own.

Size and suitability

Agencies commonly check that the room is big enough for a single bed, storage (wardrobe/drawers) and a small desk, with decent light and a homely feel. There isn’t a single legal UK size for foster bedrooms, but agencies use these practical benchmarks during approval visits.

Not a walkthrough or shared family space

A lounge, dining room, or box room used as a corridor will not meet the privacy and consistency a fostered child needs. Agencies will want to see that doors close, noise is reasonable, and the room can be kept as that child’s private space. (This is a direct application of NMS 10—comfort, safety, and dignity.)

What to put in the room

Think: proper single bed, wardrobe/drawers, a place to study, and soft lighting. These are practical expectations many fostering services set out for carers.

When can bedrooms be shared?

Default: each fostered child over three has their own room. Exceptions exist, but they’re narrow and assessed carefully.

Siblings sharing (case-by-case)

Some services may allow siblings to share if a joint room truly serves their welfare. Decisions weigh privacy, safety, age, gender, space, and each child’s wishes, and must be recorded formally under NMS 10.6. Charity guidance reflects this—occasionally appropriate, but never automatic.

Not with your own children

A fostered child generally must not share with your birth child. Wales’ national service states this plainly: you must have a spare, suitable room—and sharing with your own child is a “no.” England’s NMS framework leads to the same practical position for most agencies.

Babies and under-2s

Local statements sometimes allow infants to sleep in the carers’ bedroom (in a cot) rather than having a separate room—but this is local-policy specific and tied to safe-sleep guidance and placement planning. For example, Kent notes a spare bedroom is needed “unless fostering children under the age of two who will need a cot/cotbed in the foster carers’ room.” Hounslow says you must have a spare room if fostering children over two, implying a similar infant exception. Always check your local service’s current policy.

Parent & Child fostering, respite and short breaks

Parent & Child (P&C) placements

For Parent & Child fostering (often a young parent plus baby), you still need a spare bedroom, but the room must be large enough for both the parent and baby (bed + cot/changing space), because they usually share that room together—not with you.

Respite and short breaks

Even where regulations are adapted for short breaks, agencies usually keep the spirit of NMS 10: the environment must be safe, clean, and able to offer privacy. In practice, most services will still expect a dedicated bedroom during the child’s stay unless a carefully assessed plan says otherwise.

Renting, social housing and the “bedroom tax” (under-occupancy rules)

If you rent—especially in social housing—you might worry that keeping a spare room for fostering will reduce your Housing Benefit/Universal Credit (the so-called “bedroom tax”). There are specific exemptions for approved foster carers.

The key exemption

Government guidance confirms foster carers can be allowed one additional bedroom for Housing Benefit purposes if they are approved, including when between placements for up to 52 weeks; newly approved carers also have up to 52 weeks if no child is yet placed. Always check current details with your council or Citizens Advice, but the principle is established in DWP guidance.

If you need more than one spare bedroom

Only one extra bedroom is generally recognised for approved carers. If your caring pattern needs more capacity, councils may consider Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) to bridge the shortfall.

Students/armed forces and “is this room really spare?”

Rules also say some rooms don’t count as spare (e.g., where a student is away but intends to return, or an armed-forces family member is on operations). This can matter if you’re juggling family space while preparing to foster.

Local variations and how to get a quick answer

England vs Wales (and why you’ll hear slightly different wording)

England’s detailed framework is the NMS and the associated regulations; Wales gives clear public guidance too, and both end up in broadly the same place: you need a spare, suitable room and children over three should not share except in strictly assessed situations.

Examples from Kent and Hounslow

• Kent: Spare room expected; possible infant exception (under-2s in cot in carers’ room).
• Hounslow: Must have a spare room if fostering children over two.

These illustrate why it’s smart to ask your local fostering team early; they’ll apply national standards plus any locally agreed practice.

What your assessor will actually look for

During the home study (Form F), your assessing social worker checks the bedroom space, privacy, furnishings, safety, and that the room can remain dedicated to the child (i.e., not a home office by day and bedroom by night). This flows from NMS 10’s emphasis on adequate space and safety.

Practical steps if you don’t currently have a spare room

Reconfigure space creatively

Could an older birth child move into a different room? Could you retire a home office into a nook or shared space and convert the existing bedroom back to a full-time bedroom? If a student child is away most of the year, check local rules and plan how you’ll guarantee a dedicated space for a fostered child year-round. (Many agencies require a genuinely available room even if your own child returns during holidays.)

Talk timelines with the agency

If you’re considering a move, extension, or loft conversion, discuss timelines with the fostering service. They can start elements of the assessment while you get the room ready, then confirm suitability at a later visit.

Other ways to help while you prepare

While you create that spare room, you can still support children in care—e.g., short-term volunteering or supporting local fostering recruitment campaigns—your local council or agency can advise.

Quick FAQs

Can the foster child use a small “box room”?

Yes, if it comfortably fits a proper single bed, storage, and (ideally) a small desk, and the room feels safe and homely. Your agency will assess suitability during the home check.

Can siblings share a bedroom?

Sometimes—only after a formal risk assessment and agreement by the child(ren)’s responsible authority, with the decision recorded in writing. This fits NMS 10.6; charities note it’s an occasional solution, not the norm.

Can a fostered child share with my own child?

No—expect your service to require a separate bedroom for the fostered child. Welsh national guidance states this explicitly, and English agencies follow comparable practice under the NMS.

Do babies need their own room?

Policies vary. Some councils (e.g., Kent) allow under-2s to sleep in the carers’ room in a cot; others (e.g., Hounslow) state the spare-room requirement applies for children over two. Always check your local policy at the time you apply.

I’m in social housing—will the “bedroom tax” hit me if I keep a spare room?

Approved foster carers are generally allowed one extra bedroom for up to 52 weeks between placements (or within 52 weeks of approval if no child is placed yet). If you need more than one extra room, ask about Discretionary Housing Payments.

Bottom line

For the vast majority of fostering scenarios, you’ll need a spare bedroom—it’s the standard that protects a child’s privacy, stability, and dignity. There are carefully assessed exceptions (especially for siblings or infants under local policy), but they are not the default. If you’re in Kent, Hounslow, or nearby boroughs, talk to your local fostering team early; they’ll confirm how national standards apply locally and help you plan any tweaks to your home so you’re ready to welcome a child.