Sister and brother no sleep in same room (school, bedroom, home)

[Kansoku]

My family is moving to an apartment with 2 rooms. My family is parents, me and my little sister. The law says that there must be a room for each sister and brother (can't sleep in the same room). I think this is weird because I can just sleep in the lounge. Anyway, if neighbors find out that there's a brother and sister and parents in 2 room apartment, and they report on us, then what happens? Do they give me chance to get out to somewhere else, or perhaps kick out the whole family, or do nothing because the law is kind of unreasonable?

[kodaka]

Where are you?

I don't think there is a law anywhere, at least in the United States, that prohibits opposite gender siblings from sharing a bedroom, entirely. But social services may impose a requirement based on other family dynamics. And a divorce court may take a lack of separate rooms into consideration when determining which parent is better suited to have primary custody. And it may simply be an apartment complex policy. Many have rules about maximum occupancy, such as 3 persons in a 2 bedroom unit.

If there is a law that applies to your situation, I doubt many neighbors will know about the law, let alone know that your family is violating it. If they reported it, social services and the landlord would have to investigate and then evict, which takes quite a bit of time, so you'd have some notice. If you are a minor, they can't force you out alone.

[Ceece]

I had friends who's boy/girl kids shared a room until they were in middle school. They flat out couldn't afford anything bigger in the area they wanted to live. I don't think there is any "law" about such things. Families do what they have to do in order to get by. Any law like that would be counter productive.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Hmmm

Could this be why?

[toosie]

I don't have it now but used to have a citation of a Virginia law that required opposite sex children not to be roomed together after a certain age. However, it's one of those laws that isn't enforced regularly and exists either because it's been there forever or because it "could" come in handy for extreme cases - like overcrowding and abuse. If you're just going about your business like law-abiding citizens I doubt neighbors would throw up the alarm over the situation the OP described.

If it's a big concern, you could call the local municipality or have someone call for you.

[Sundance]

I wouldn't call any gov. agency, that will just alert them to the "problem."

You don't state your ages.

You, as the older brother, should sleep on the sofa in the living room. There are ways to manage.

Your mother could sleep with your sister and you could sleep with your Dad.

Your mom and Dad could still "take care of business," if they are creative. 'Nuff said there.

If you are 12 or over, you probably don't need to share a BR with your little sister. Sleep on the couch or sleep with your Dad and let Mom sleep with sister.

[sheena12]

Actually there is a law in my state.
Twelve is the upper age limit.
If one child is 12 and they are of different genders then they need separate bedrooms.
It only becomes an issue if you are having a home study for adoption or you have a situation where someone call CPS.
I think that its crazy to legislate this stuff but it is what it is

[Faworki1947]

mom and dad sleep on the sofabed in the living room and the kids each have a bedroom..
yes the mandated bedroom thing is stupid for the most part as most parents do try and give the kids seprate rooms BUT sometimes that wont be an option or just flat out unaffordable .. do the kids get seprate tents when camping out or living in a tent ? no not really ..

[Kansoku]

Ok perhaps it isn't the law but it's the apartment policy. Would they actually kick us out if they found out a family of 5 is living in a one-bedroom apartment where there is theoretically three bedrooms needed, one for brothers (me and my brother), one for sister, and one for parents.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by Kansoku

Ok perhaps it isn't the law but it's the apartment policy. Would they actually kick us out if they found out a family of 5 is living in a one-bedroom apartment where there is theoretically three bedrooms needed, one for brothers (me and my brother), one for sister, and one for parents.

As long as the rent comes in on time they don't get any noise complaints, I doubt most landlords will notice or care.