Domestic abuse consultations launched

The Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has announced two domestic abuse consultations. The first focuses on the impact of joint tenancies on victims of domestic abuse and the second looks at the local connection requirements currently in place for social housing for domestic abuse victims.

We will be responding to the first consultation and are asking members to contribute to this response by letting us know your views by 1 April. We are sharing details of the second consultation with you and encourage you to get in touch with our team if you have any questions about its content. 

Consultation on the impacts of joint tenancies on victims of domestic abuse

DLUHC is seeking views on the impacts of the law on joint tenancies on victims of domestic abuse in the social rented sector.

Housing associations offer support accommodation for people fleeing domestic violence and have been raising the challenges that joint tenancies can cause for domestic abuse victims. We want to make sure members’ voices are represented in the consultation and demonstrate the sector’s commitment to this vital issue.

The specific questions they are interested in answering are:

• Whether perpetrators are threatening the victim with homelessness by ending a joint tenancy.
• If victims can feel trapped in a joint tenancy with the perpetrator.
• Whether current guidelines for social landlords are sufficient for supporting victims in joint tenancies.
• If the law on transferring joint tenancies functions successfully for victims.

If you would like to contribute to the consultation, we would be grateful if you could respond to us with your comments by 1 April.

Consultation on local connection requirements for social housing for victims of domestic abuse

DLUHC have also launched a consultation on requirements for local connections for victims of domestic abuse.

 Specifically, they are interested in your views on:

• Proposals to enable victims of domestic abuse to be allocated social housing in another local authority district. Previously victims had been unable to move to a different local authority district to escape domestic abuse unless they could prove a local connection to the area.
• How local authorities are making use of the existing legislation and guidance to support victims who wish to move within and across local authority boundaries. 

If you would like to discuss further, please get in touch with our team.