What Age Can Children Share a Bedroom?

The short answer

Under the UK bedroom standard — the rules used across social housing, Housing Benefit and Universal Credit — children are generally expected to share a bedroom until they reach certain ages. Two children under 10 are expected to share regardless of their sex. From age 10, children of different sexes are entitled to their own rooms, while two children of the same sex are still expected to share up to age 16.

That's the framework landlords use when they decide whether a home is the right size for your family — and therefore whether they'll approve a mutual exchange into it.

The rules by age

• Under 10 — share regardless of sex. A young brother and sister are expected to share one bedroom until the older of them turns 10.
• Aged 10 to 15, same sex — still share. Two boys, or two girls, in this age range are expected to share a room.
• Aged 10 or over, different sexes — own rooms. Once a boy and a girl reach 10, they are each entitled to their own bedroom.
• Aged 16 or over — own room. A young person of 16 or above is entitled to their own bedroom regardless of who else is in the household.

Can a boy and a girl share?

Yes — while they are both under 10. This is the point that surprises people most. Under the rules, a 4-year-old boy and a 7-year-old girl are expected to share one bedroom. It's only when the older child turns 10 that they become entitled to separate rooms.

These are minimum standards, not a judgement about what's ideal for your family. Many parents feel their children need their own space earlier, and you're free to arrange your home however works for you. But when it comes to whether you qualify for a larger property or whether a swap will be approved, it's these ages that landlords apply.

There are also exceptions for disability — if a child can't share a room because of a disability, they may be entitled to their own bedroom earlier. You'll usually need supporting evidence from a medical professional.

Why it matters for your swap

The same rules that decide how many bedrooms you're entitled to also decide whether a landlord will approve a mutual exchange. If you try to swap into a home that's too small for your household under the bedroom standard, the exchange can be refused on the grounds of overcrowding. If you try to swap into one that's much too big, it can be refused for under-occupation.

Before you start contacting people, work out exactly what you're entitled to. Our free bedroom calculator takes each child's age and sex into account and tells you how many bedrooms your household needs — so you only spend time on swaps that will actually be approved. For the wider rules, see our guide to the UK bedroom standard.