Recently three senior high school students came into our office looking for a house to rent for themselves. When asked why they wanted to a place of their own, they explained that they were being kicked out of home. Mmm… what seems like a reasonable request, to get away from home and to stand on your own is actually quite a hurdle to get over. Ask anybody who has gone renting for the first time and they will tell you, it’s difficult to tick all the boxes before you can get your own place. Furthermore, most young renters are likely to agree that the best bed in town is your own, back with your parents.

You see, to get into a flat is quite difficult. You have to come up with four week’s rent as a bond, a week’s rent in advance and a week’s rent as a letting fee. That’s anywhere from $1,200 – $1,800. But if you are sharing with two others well, that’s easy (you think). The agency will then point out that if one or two of you decide to throw in the towel, then YOU ARE IT! If  your mates walk away, then you are the one who is responsible for paying the entire rent and if you can’t, you are the one who is facing getting evicted and losing all that up front money. Mmm …

But before we can put them in to a property we need  references. First up – your most recent landlord. Now this is where it gets difficult. It’s not a good look to write on the application form where it says “reason for leaving : kicked out” Mmm …

Maybe someone will go gaurantee for you. That is, if you don’t pay, then they pay for you. Now it gets more difficult. Do you know anyone who is willing  to put their good name against your recent reputation? Mmm…

Even if you get this far, going flatting is now about to take every hard earned dollar from your part time job and you will never see it again! What about the set up costs of the flat? Furniture, kitchen stuff, linen and bedding, washing machine, lawn mower!  Maybe you will need to drop out of school so you have enough money to make ends meet. But ask anyone on the minimum wage, that’s not much fun.

My advice to the the three young students was easy. “Welcome to the real world guys. Why don’t you put your, moving-out-on-your-own plans, on hold for a while, sort out your differences with your parents and say at home for a while longer. The best deal in town is your own bed, back at your parents place. Make peace at home, work on getting along with your folks and put off getting into the real world as long as possible.”