Leaving home when you are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.

Moving Out

How can I find suitable accomodation?

What if I have nowhere to stay - can the council help me?

What are my rights?

Support and Advice

Moving Out

If you are LGBT you may be in even more of a hurry to leave home, perhaps because:

• you don't want to come out whilst living at home
• your parents or family won't accept your sexual orientation
• you feel out of place or are being bullied at school or in the area you live in.

However, don't be in too much of a hurry. Try to make sure you have somewhere to go before you move out, and don't rush to move in with a partner just to get away from home.

How can I find suitable accomodation?

Unfortunately, gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender people may find they encounter prejudice when looking for accommodation. If you're leaving home for the first time, you may consider sharing a flat or house with other LGBT people. You can find these advertised in lesbian and gay magazines and LGBT centres. Lesbian and gay helplines may have lists of LBGT-friendly landlords you can approach.
If you believe that the council, a housing association or a private landlord has discriminated against you because you are LGB or T, you may be able to take action against them - see 'what are my rights' below.

What if I have nowhere to stay?

If you find yourself with nowhere to stay, call Shelter's free housing advice helpline on 0808 800 4444. Shelter can't provide you with a place to stay, but an adviser should be able to help you find a place in a hostel or refuge near you.

Can the council help me?

If you have to leave your home because your parents have thrown you out or because you are scared of violence, abuse or harassment, you can get help from your local council. You don't have to sleeping on the street to get help. If you are staying with a friend or in a hostel, you are still legally homeless.

What help can the council give me?

The council will look into your situation to see what kind of help it should offer you. This may be:

• help to find a new place to live
• an offer of a permanent home.

Find out how to get help from the council by contacting us.

What if the council won't help me?

If the council won't help you, we can help you find an adviser at a Shelter housing aid centre or the Citizens Advice Bureau, who can look into your situation and help you get what you're entitled to.

What are my rights?

Discrimination
Councils, housing associations and landlords cannot discriminate against you because of your sexual orientation or gender identity. If you think this is happening, you may be able to take action. Contact us for more advice.

Harrassment
...nor should your landlord or anyone else in your neighbourhood harass you or make your life miserable because you are gay. Harassment is a criminal offence, and you can report your landlord to the police if this happens. You may not need to go into the police station to do this. You can find out more about your housing rights if you contact us.

Support and Advice

If you contact us, we can refer you to a variety of organisation like Kilburn Youth Centre or Stonewall housing where you can get advice about housing and benefits.