Bedroom standard

The number of bedrooms needed so that no one has to share a bedroom unless they are a) a couple, b) both aged under 10, or c) aged under 21 and of the same sex. No more than two people should share any bedroom.

Strategic Housing Market Assessments – Annexes CLG, April 2007

It is based on the ages and composition of the family. A notional number of bedrooms are allocated to each household in accordance with its composition by age, sex and marital status and relationships of family members. A separate bedroom is allocated to each:

  • married or cohabiting couple;
  • adult aged 21 years or more;
  • pair of adolescents aged 10-20 years of the same sex;
  • pair of children aged under 10 years regardless of sex.

Any unpaired person aged 10-20 years is paired, if possible, with a child aged under 10 years of the same sex or, if that is not possible given a separate bedroom. The same applies to any unpaired child aged under 10 years.

This standard is then compared with the number of bedrooms available for the sole use of the household. Bedrooms converted to other uses are not included; bedrooms not in use are included unless they are uninhabitable.

Tackling overcrowding in England: An action Plan. CLG, December 2007.