Why Foster Carers Make Exceptional Tenants 

Renting to Foster Carers is a smart, low‑risk, and more reliable way to let your property. Foster Carers are among the most thoroughly vetted and well‑supported tenants you will ever have, with ongoing oversight that protects your property as well as the people living in it. 

Common Concerns Landlords and Letting Agencies have about Foster Carers

We recognise that landlords and letting agencies may have understandable questions about letting a property to Foster Carers, however, many of these concerns are based on misconceptions: 

• Foster Carers are robustly assessed and supported 
  All Foster Carers are subject to a rigorous assessment, training, ongoing supervision and regular reviews by the local authority. 

• Children in foster care are not tenants 
  Foster children remain the legal responsibility of the local authority; fostering is not a commercial childcare activity and does not change the legal status of the tenancy. 

• Rental income is reliable 
  Foster Carers receive fostering allowances and support payments. Many are also in stable employment, and fostering income is predictable and paid regularly. 

• Properties are well maintained 
  Foster Carers are encouraged and supported to maintain safe, well‑presented homes. Regular visits ensure the environment is suitable for children and health and safety checks are completed and regularly updated.  Many landlords report positive, long‑term tenancies with carers who value stability. 

• Concerns about wilful damage and police involvement are a misconception 
  Incidents of deliberate damage to property by children in care are rare. Children are carefully matched with our Foster Carers, who are thoroughly trained to manage behaviour, provide structure, and seek early support. 

Foster Carers are the most highly vetted Tenants

Before anyone is approved as a Foster Carer, they go through a level of scrutiny far beyond standard tenant referencing. Through a robust assessment process, we carry out a range of checks and ask for references. These include: 

• Enhanced DBS checks  

• Employer and personal references 

• Local authority and social services checks (Local Authority Designated Officer) 

• Medical assessments 

• Detailed home and lifestyle assessments 

Most private landlords will never receive this level of assurance about who is living in their property. 

Put simply, Foster Carers are trusted by the local authority with the care of vulnerable children – and that trust extends to the homes they live in. 

Ongoing Oversight That Protects Your Property

Foster Carers are subject to regular, formal supervision by trained professionals to ensure homes remain safe, stable and well managed. 

• Visits from Supervising Social Workers every 4-6 weeks 

• Routine checks on cleanliness, safety and suitability of the home 

• Clear expectations around fire safety, hygiene and household standards 

Carers are also expected to model positive behaviour and good hygiene to the children they care for – meaning well maintained, orderly homes are the norm, not the exception. 

This level of external oversight often uncovers issues early and encourages proactive maintenance – benefiting landlords as much as families. 

Stable Demand Means Reliable Income 

In West Sussex, the number of children in our care significantly exceeds the number of fostering families we have – which is why it’s so critical that we remove barriers to fostering for those with a desire to support vulnerable children. 

• At any given time, around 50 children are waiting for suitable fostering families 

• The number of children needing care vastly outweighs the number of approved Foster Carers. 

So, while you might think that a professional couple is the holy grail of tenants, in an uncertain economic market, Foster Carers are less likely to have a break in income than any other tenants you may be considering.  

• Long‑term tenancies are desired by Foster Carers to provide ongoing stability to children who may have experienced a lot of disruption and uncertainty in their young lives 

• Foster Carer tenants can provide a greater certainty of ongoing rental income. 

Fostering Does Not Change the Residential Use of Your Property 

Foster Carers are classed as self‑employed for tax and regulatory purposes (receiving up to £32k+ per child, per year); however, they are not running a business from the property. 

Fostering is the extension of a family home to provide a safe and nurturing environment for a child or young person who cannot live with their birth family. The foster child lives as part of the household, just as any other child would, and there is no commercial activity, client traffic, or alteration to the property. 

Fostering does not change the residential use of the property and does not create additional wear beyond normal family living. It is fundamentally about family life, stability, and care. 

Reassurance Around Damage and Disputes 

Landlords often worry about: 

• Property damage 

• Repairs 

• Neighbour complaints 

These are also the top reasons for eviction across the private rented sector – but fostering arrangements come with additional safeguards. 

• Foster Carers are held to clear standards and supported to maintain their homes 

• Any concerns are addressed early through social work support 

• If issues arise, the fostering service can act as an intermediary to resolve them quickly. 

• The Council can support landlords where wilful damage occurs (subject to service agreements). 

Damage or tenancy concerns very rarely occur, but if they do, you are not left to manage this alone. 

Why do Children Need Safe Homes? 

Children who need Foster Carers are not in this situation because of something they’ve done. 

They come into our care due to: 

• Abuse or neglect 

• Loss of a parent 

• Domestic abuse 

• Parental mental or physical ill‑health 

• Parental substance misuse 

All of our children have experienced trauma. Providing a safe, stable home gives them the chance to heal, feel secure and thrive. 

By letting a property to a Foster Carer, you are: 

• Supporting vulnerable children 

• Strengthening your local community 

• Choosing tenants who take pride in their homes 

How Landlords and Letting Agents Can Make a Life-Changing Difference 

Across West Sussex, the number of children who need safe, stable foster homes continues to grow. Every child in our care deserves a nurturing environment where they can feel secure, supported and able to thrive. To make this possible, we urgently need more approved Foster Carers – and the housing sector has a vital role to play. 

One of the most significant barriers we face is the refusal of consent from landlords when tenants wish to become Foster Carers. Equally, approved Foster Carers who are looking to rent larger homes are frequently rejected, despite having a proven income and strong support from the local authority. These challenges are preventing willing, capable adults from opening their homes to vulnerable children. 

Fostering is not only a commitment of time and compassion – it also depends on having suitable accommodation. Foster Carers may require an additional bedroom, longer term housing stability, or permission to have another child living in the property. Without landlord consent, many tenants are unable to proceed with fostering 

For children in care, these refusals can mean longer stays in emergency care, residential homes or out‑of‑area arrangements. This can mean further disruption to education and friendships and missed opportunities for family-based care within their own community. 

A Call for Partnership 

We are asking landlords and letting agencies to work with us as partners in supporting children in care. A simple “yes” to fostering consent can be transformative – not only for a Foster Carer, but for a child who urgently needs a home. 

Our fostering team is happy to answer questions, provide reassurance, and work collaboratively to address any concerns you may have. By being flexible and open minded, you can help remove one of the biggest barriers to fostering and play a direct role in changing lives for the better. 

Together, we can ensure that the right homes are available for the children who need them most. 

If you would like to discuss how your property portfolio could benefit from renting to fostering households, please contact us at fostering@westsussex.gov.uk.