ABSTRACT.Open‐ended interviews were conducted with 12 people with a mental handicap who had left parental homes in order to live as tenants in community residential hostels. Parents and hostel staff were also interviewed. The nature of life in the family home, and the tenant's role in the move, reasons for leaving home and expectations for the future were explored. It was found that social life, autonomy and opportunities to develop self‐help skills had been limited at home. The tenants who had the widest social experience and the greatest use of self‐help skills at home were the most active in changing their situation. Tenants hoped to gain more freedom by leaving home, although they were also in agreement with parents and staff about the value of learning new s