Children under 18 in the Co-op
This policy addresses the situation of:
A. members’ children under 18,
B. other children under 18 who are resident in the Co-op.
C. For the policy on children of Co-op members who are over 18, see the “Adult Children of Co-op Members” policy.
Policy Intention
The primary purpose of this policy is to ensure that the rights of children living in Vine properties are clearly articulated and safeguarded. In addition, this policy serves to advise Co-op members about the extent of the Co-op’s responsibilities and the responsibilities of parents within the Co-op.
All members’ children under 18, including adopted children and foster-children have the right to residence in the Co-op together with their parents or carers.
Vine’s Equal Opportunities Policy states that ‘no person applying for housing….will be treated less favourably because of…’ and the list includes ‘pregnancy and having children’.
(P&PR propose adding ‘paternity’ to the Equal Opportunities Policy)
1a. Fostering children
‘if a single person or a couple have unused space and would like to foster they should be encouraged to go ahead. They will need to provide evidence to Membership that they have been accepted as foster parents. Once accepted, their situation should be reviewed after one year’ (Agreed July 2018).
Foster children will have the same rights as other children.
Tenancy Agreements require details to be recorded of ‘People living in the property at the beginning of the tenancy’ and their relationship to the tenants. This will record the number of children under 10 and the number between 10 and 18. It is the responsibility of parents in the Co-op to notify Housing Management when:
- Children are born, adopted, fostered or otherwise move to a Co-op property.
- Children leave the Co-op.
- Children in the Co-op reach the ages of 10 and 18.
It is the responsibility of Housing Management to regularly raise awareness of this requirement amongst members of the Co-op. It is the responsibility of Membership to ensure that these requirements are communicated in the induction of new members of the Co-op.
The allocations of tenants, including children, will refer to the statutory law on overcrowding.
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmbills/046/2003046.pdf
Vine’s tenancy agreements state the number of ‘persons’ who may live in a dwelling, based on the number of rooms available. This respects Housing Law on overcrowding which is in two forms.
3a. ‘Room standard’ is about bedrooms. It does not include children under 10, as these may sleep in the same room as their parents.
Overcrowding occurs if there are more than 2 people per room.
No two people, over 10 years old, of opposite sex* should have to sleep in the same room (unless living as a couple). The standard would not be breached if a mother slept in the same room as her daughter and the father with his son.
As a general principle ‘all children above the age of 10 should have their own room’; however, the practicalities of available space also need to be considered.
*Note It should be noted that the paragraphs here are direct quotes of the legislation. The Co-op prefers to refer to ‘differing genders’ instead of ‘opposite sex’.
3b. ‘Space standard’ is about square footage, and considers the size of the whole dwelling. Overcrowding occurs if there are more than 2 people to 110 square feet.
- Babies under 1 count as 0 persons
- Children 1-10 count as ½ person
- Children over 10 count as 1 person
4a. When a relationship breaks down involving children when at least one parent or carer is a Co-op member, the parent(s)/guardian(s) must inform Housing Management which parent will be the primary carer for the child/children for the purposes of Co-op policy. This applies even if joint custody is arranged. To be the primary carer for the purposes of Co-op policy, the child must spend at least 50% of the time living with that carer every year.
4b. If a transfer is caused through relationship breakdown involving two Co-op members with children, the parent/guardian who is not the primary carer must move to the smaller housing unit (i.e. the primary carer stays in the existing family home)
4c. Should a child spend less than 50% of the time with the parent/guardian designated primary carer, they will cease to be considered the primary carer. Housing Management should be duly notified by the parent/guardian in question.
4d. If the primary carer is a Co-op member, the child will continue living with them and have the rights outlined above. If the primary carer is not a Co-op member, the child will cease to have the rights outlined above.
4e. Should the primary carer change, the parent(s)/guardian(s) must notify Housing Management. If the new primary carer is a Co-op member, the child will gain / retain the rights outlined in above. If the new primary carer is a not Co-op member, the child will cease to have the rights outlined above.
See also Vine’s: Transfer & Mutual Exchange Policy and Procedure