Could You Be a Foster Carer? Common Myths About Who Can Foster

If you have ever wondered whether you could foster, but talked yourself out of it before you even picked up the phone, you are not alone. So many people rule themselves out over things that simply are not true – their age, their postcode, whether they rent or own, whether they are single, or a worry that they are “not the right sort of person”. In this guide we gently unpick the most common myths about who can foster, so you can see your own situation clearly and decide, with the facts in front of you, whether fostering might be for you.

Greater London Fostering is rated Outstanding by Ofsted in all three judgements, most recently at our inspection published in September 2025. Read the full Ofsted report.

Please note: this article is general information, not personal financial, legal or medical advice. Tax and allowance figures are correct for the 2026/27 tax year at the time of writing; always check the current amounts with GOV.UK or the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group. Every fostering assessment considers your individual circumstances.

The one thing that really matters

Before we get to the myths, here is the reassuring truth at the heart of all of them. Fostering agencies are not looking for a perfect person with a perfect house and a perfect past. They are looking for someone with a bit of space in their life – and usually a spare bedroom – and the warmth and commitment to give a child stability when they need it most. Almost everything else is far more flexible than people assume. Right now The Fostering Network estimates that around 5,000 more fostering families are needed across England, with the number of approved carers falling for the third year running – which means the children waiting are as varied as the people who could care for them, from babies to teenagers, brothers and sisters who need to stay together, and young people who simply need someone in their corner.

With that in mind, let’s look at the worries that most often hold people back.

Myth 1: “I’m too old – or too young”

You need to be at least 18 to foster, and in practice most agencies look for applicants who are 21 or over. At the other end, there is no upper age limit at all. What matters is your health and energy, not the number on your birthday card – plenty of people begin fostering in their fifties and sixties, often once their own children have grown up and they have more time and a quieter house to offer. If you are fit enough to care for a child and keen to keep learning, your age is very unlikely to stand in your way.

Myth 2: “I’m single, so I won’t be considered”

Being single is absolutely no barrier to fostering. You can foster whether you are single, married, living with a partner, divorced or widowed, and your sexuality makes no difference either – single people and LGBTQ+ carers are a valued and growing part of the fostering community. What an agency wants to understand is that you have a dependable support network around you, whether that is family, friends or neighbours who can lend a hand. You do not have to do this on your own, and being a household of one does not mean facing it alone.

Myth 3: “I rent my home, so I can’t foster”

You do not need to own your home to foster. Renting is completely fine, provided your tenancy is reasonably secure and, where needed, your landlord is happy for you to foster there. For most types of fostering the key practical requirement is a spare bedroom, because an older foster child needs their own room and cannot share with you or your birth children. There is an important exception, though: we are currently looking for carers who can offer a loving home to babies, and a baby under two can sleep in a cot in the carer’s own room – so a spare bedroom is not always essential to get started. What matters far more than the number of bedrooms, or whether your name is on the mortgage or the tenancy agreement, is a safe, stable, welcoming home. You can read more about the practical basics on our foster carer requirements page.

Myth 4: “I work full time, so there’s no point applying”

Working does not automatically rule you out. Many foster carers work, and some types of fostering fit more easily around a job than others. It is true that fostering a young child, or offering emergency placements, usually needs at least one carer to be at home and very flexible during the day – but caring for a teenager who is at school or college, or offering short breaks and weekend support, can work well alongside employment. The honest answer is that it depends on the child and the type of fostering, so it is well worth talking it through rather than assuming the door is closed. Our overview of what fostering involves day to day gives a realistic picture of how the routine can look.

Myth 5: “I’ve never worked with children, so I’m not qualified”

You do not need a professional background in childcare, teaching or social work to foster. You do not even need to have been a parent. Life experience, patience, a sense of humour and a genuine willingness to learn count for far more than any qualification. Agencies may ask about the experience you do have – whether that is raising your own children, helping with nieces, nephews or friends’ children, or work and volunteering – but the important thing is your attitude, not your CV. And you will never be sent in unprepared: before you are approved you complete preparation training, including the well-known “Skills to Foster” course, and your learning continues throughout your fostering journey.

Myth 6: “I have a health condition or take medication”

Living with a health condition, a disability, or taking long-term medication does not automatically prevent you from fostering. As part of the assessment you will have a straightforward medical, and the agency’s medical adviser gives an opinion on whether anything would genuinely affect your ability to care for a child – not to catch you out, but to make sure fostering is sustainable and safe for everyone, including you. Many people who manage ongoing conditions foster very successfully. If you are well enough to care for a child day to day, a health condition on its own is rarely a reason to be turned away.

Myth 7: “I have a criminal record, so I’ll be rejected”

This one stops a lot of people unnecessarily. Everyone in your household will need an enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check, and honesty is essential – but a criminal record does not automatically disqualify you. The offences that would rule you out are specific: convictions for offences against children or certain serious sexual offences. Many other things in someone’s past, especially if they were minor or a long time ago, will simply be discussed openly as part of your assessment. The golden rule is to be upfront from the start; it is far better to talk about something honestly than to have it come as a surprise later.

Myth 8: “I couldn’t afford to foster”

Fostering is not something you have to fund out of your own pocket. Foster carers receive a weekly payment that covers the costs of caring for a child and includes a reward element for your time and skill. At Greater London Fostering, carers currently receive £479.50 a week for a child under 11 and £507.50 a week for a child aged 11 or over, with an enhanced fee (typically £100–£200 more a week) for placements where a child has additional needs. Allowances are paid per child and only while a child is placed with you, and the amount varies with the child’s age and needs. Because carers count as self-employed, there is also a generous tax break called Qualifying Care Relief. In the current 2026/27 tax year that gives each fostering household a fixed tax-free amount of £20,440, plus a weekly tax-free amount for each child in your care (around £435 a week for a child under 11 and £515 for a child aged 11 or over). For many carers this means little or no tax to pay on their fostering income. We explain it all in plain English in our guide to whether foster carers pay tax.

So – who can foster?

Put simply, far more people than realise it. You can foster if you are single or partnered, renting or owning, working or at home, in your twenties or your sixties, with or without children of your own, and from any faith, ethnicity or background. What you genuinely need is straightforward:

• To be over 18 (usually 21+) with the right to live and work in the UK.
• A spare bedroom for a foster child (or, if you foster a baby, room for a cot in your own room).
• Good enough health and energy to care for a child.
• The time and emotional space to make a child feel safe and welcome.
• Honesty about your background, and a willingness to learn and be supported.

If that sounds like it could be you, the next step is simply a conversation – not a commitment. You can find out what the process looks like on our becoming a foster carer page, and see what happens once you are approved in starting your journey as a foster carer.

You won’t have to do this alone

Perhaps the biggest myth of all is that foster carers are left to cope by themselves. At Greater London Fostering we are a small, personal agency, and supporting our carers is what we do best. From your first enquiry through assessment and approval and every day afterwards, you have a dedicated supervising social worker, round-the-clock out-of-hours support, ongoing training and a community of other carers nearby. Fostering can be challenging, and we will always be honest with you about that – but you are never on your own with it. Many of our carers say it feels less like working for an agency and more like being part of an extended family.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an age limit for fostering?

You must be at least 18, and most agencies prefer applicants to be 21 or over. There is no upper age limit – what matters is that you are in good enough health and have the energy to care for a child.

Can I foster if I’m single or renting?

Yes. Being single is no barrier, and you do not need to own your home – renting is fine as long as your tenancy is secure and, where needed, your landlord agrees. The usual requirement is a spare bedroom for the child, though if you foster a baby a cot in your own room can be enough.

Do I need experience or qualifications to foster?

No formal qualifications or professional childcare experience are required, and you do not have to have been a parent. You will complete preparation training, including the “Skills to Foster” course, before approval, with ongoing training and support after that.

Will a criminal record stop me from fostering?

Not necessarily. Everyone in the household has an enhanced DBS check, and honesty is essential. Offences against children or serious sexual offences would rule you out, but many other matters can simply be discussed as part of your assessment.

How much do Greater London Fostering carers get paid?

At Greater London Fostering, carers currently receive £479.50 a week for a child under 11 and £507.50 a week for a child aged 11 or over, with an enhanced fee (typically £100–£200 more a week) for higher-needs placements. Allowances are paid per child and only while a child is placed with you, and the amount varies with the child’s age and needs. This covers the child’s costs and includes a reward element for your time and skill. A tax relief called Qualifying Care Relief means many carers pay little or no tax on their fostering income.