Care leavers will be offered council tax relief in a new policy.

Barnet Council's police and resources committee voted to consult on a policy which would offer council tax relief to care leavers up to the age of 25 for their first two years of independent living.

Financial help would be available to care leavers outside of Barnet and those who experience financial difficulties after the initial two year period will also be eligible for relief.

According to Barnet Council, one in three care leavers have problems paying their bills and are being forced to sacrifice basic necessities in life to pay council tax nationally.

Council leader Cllr Richard Cornelius said: "There are currently more than 200 care leavers in Barnet, many of whom have experienced challenges in childhood and adolescents.

"When care leavers move to living independently, it is often their first experience of having to manage a budget on their own.

"Financial pressures stemming from council tax and daily living costs can adversely affect the mental health and employment prospects for our care leavers.

"All parents want to help their children as they take their first steps towards living independently – and the council, as the corporate parent to children in care, is no different.

"The policy being proposed will help make the transition from being in care to becoming independent a much smoother process."

The council currently uses discretionary funds to provide council tax relief for care leavers, so this policy is an attempt to formalise that process and will form part of the council's vision to become the most 'family friendly' borough in London by 2020.