Live-in housing: what is allowed

1. The live-in rule

Living in is a condition of stay:

• The helper must live at the address written on the contract.
• Living out is not allowed, except for a very small group who already had live-out approval before 1 April 2003.
• Breaking this rule is a criminal offence for both the family and the helper.

2. A suitable place to sleep

The family must provide free, suitable accommodation with reasonable privacy:

• Own room or shared room: A separate helper room is best. If the room is shared (for example with a child or a female family member), the helper needs her own bed and a partition or curtain.
• Basic items: Bed, mattress, blanket, wardrobe, and access to clean water and a bathroom.
• Not allowed: Sleeping in a corridor, passageway, storage room with no air, or sharing a room with an adult of the opposite sex.