Sharing/overcrowding and the law

Mr_love_monkey · 20-09-2004, 11:04

Are there any laws about bedrooms being shared? - basically I was having a discussion with the missus the other day, and basically we had heard of a family that had come from abroad and what they were basically going to do was sleep, Mum and Dad, Cousin - male (aged about 11/12 I think) and one other - probably same age unsure about sex, in the same room.

I thought I remembered reading years ago about restrictions on things like that, i.e. with kids of an impressionable age and so on - but my wife doesn't think that there is anything of the sort...

I've had a google but can't really find anything.. anyone know of anything?

**Chris** · 20-09-2004, 11:09

I doubt very much that there would be any laws against this.

Ramrod · 20-09-2004, 11:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris T

I doubt very much that there would be any laws against this.

Only a matter of time

aliferste · 20-09-2004, 11:23

I dont think you can have laws about forcing people to not live in poverty.
Mostly its set up the other way about ...taking money off people so as to force them to live like that.
Maybe what you are thinking about is the council housing stuff, where you can apply for a bigger council house if there is a certain amount of people over a certain age with too few rooms.
OR
Maybe it is something to do with private landlords must apply to become a private landlord and state how many people will stay in a rented flat. This was mostly to do with students....ie you cant have 15 students staying in a 4 bedroomed flat.
This is in Scotland though !!

Mr_love_monkey · 20-09-2004, 11:32

Hmm.. I just thought that the whole area of kids becoming sexually aware at that age, in a room with sexually active adults or kids in the same sexual awareness stage of opposite sex sharing would cause some sort of problem? - ignoring poverty issues and so on?

**Chris** · 20-09-2004, 11:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_love_monkey

Hmm.. I just thought that the whole area of kids becoming sexually aware at that age, in a room with sexually active adults or kids in the same sexual awareness stage of opposite sex sharing would cause some sort of problem? - ignoring poverty issues and so on?

That's what I thought you were referring to, and no, I don't think there are any specific laws in that area. You can't assume that children, of whatever age, are being exposed to inappropriate displays of sexuality just because they are in a room with two adults.

If that was the case, and it could be proven that the children were being forced to be an audience for that kind of thing, there are existing, general laws that could be used to bring a prosecution.

Flubflow · 20-09-2004, 11:36

In terms of council housing I know that local councils have a points system for re-housing based on things like people sharing bedrooms (with regard to sex and age).

20-09-2004, 11:49

Actually there are laws about this sort of thing (Housing Act 1985). In brief, no people of mixed sex over the age of 10 may sleep in the same room unless they are living together as husband and wife (married or common law). Additionally, the size of the room dictates the number of people that may sleep in that room.

This site

http://www.chiltern.gov.uk/housingco...?step=4&pid=55

goes into the specifics in a bit more detail.

Mr_love_monkey · 20-09-2004, 11:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by dr wadd

Actually there are laws about this sort of thing (Housing Act 1985). In brief, no people of mixed sex over the age of 10 may sleep in the same room unless they are living together as husband and wife (married or common law). Additionally, the size of the room dictates the number of people that may sleep in that room.

This site

http://www.chiltern.gov.uk/housingco...?step=4&pid=55

goes into the specifics in a bit more detail.

Thank you - exactly what I was looking for

**Chris** · 20-09-2004, 12:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by dr wadd

Actually there are laws about this sort of thing (Housing Act 1985). In brief, no people of mixed sex over the age of 10 may sleep in the same room unless they are living together as husband and wife (married or common law). Additionally, the size of the room dictates the number of people that may sleep in that room.

This site

http://www.chiltern.gov.uk/housingco...?step=4&pid=55

goes into the specifics in a bit more detail.

The Housing Act appears to be aimed at rented accommodation, not all houses, and the wording of it seems to be intended to prevent overcrowding, not moral outrage, which is apparently what MLM's original question was about.

Mr_love_monkey · 20-09-2004, 12:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris T

The Housing Act appears to be aimed at rented accommodation, not all houses, and the wording of it seems to be intended to prevent overcrowding, not moral outrage, which is apparently what MLM's original question was about.

But if that is the case, why do they bring sexes into the equation?

**Rob** · 20-09-2004, 12:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris T

That's what I thought you were referring to, and no, I don't think there are any specific laws in that area. You can't assume that children, of whatever age, are being exposed to inappropriate displays of sexuality just because they are in a room with two adults.

If this were to apply, how can travellodges offer Family Rooms?

Dr Wadd's link is quite interesting. If you have 4 rooms 7.5 people can occupy the property. What is a half person

**Chris** · 20-09-2004, 12:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_love_monkey

But if that is the case, why do they bring sexes into the equation?

I expect it's in recognition that most people want to give their sons and daughters their own rooms, but without the law worded in that fashion you would have no recourse in law. What that law does not say, and what I think no law says, is that you as a family are not allowed to choose to put yourselves all in one room, if that's what you want to do.

Mr_love_monkey · 20-09-2004, 12:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris T

What that law does not say, and what I think no law says, is that you as a family are not allowed to choose to put yourselves all in one room, if that's what you want to do.

True, and to actually enforce something like that would be impossible...

As an aside does anyone know where I could get a copy of the complete text of the housing act - 1985 (download) - i haven't been able to find it via google...

**Chris** · 20-09-2004, 12:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_love_monkey

True, and to actually enforce something like that would be impossible...

As an aside does anyone know where I could get a copy of the complete text of the housing act - 1985 (download) - i haven't been able to find it via google...

At a guess, www.parliament.uk would be where I'd look first.

No idea really though.