Consultation on local connection requirements for victims of domestic abuse – our response

During the passage of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, concerns were raised relating to local connection tests for domestic abuse victims who apply for social housing. The government committed to consulting on regulations to disapply local connection tests for victims of domestic abuse.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has been seeking views on proposals to introduce regulations includes:

• Helping victims of domestic abuse to move to other local authority districts qualifying for an allocation of social housing in the new areas.
• Reviewing how local authorities are making use of the existing legislation and guidance to support victims of domestic abuse who wish to move within and across local authority boundaries.

Summary of our response

The National Domestic Abuse Group brings together representatives from housing associations and local authorities across the country to improve the sector’s response to domestic abuse have welcomed the consultation. The group supports the view that victims of domestic abuse should be exempt from any local connection or residency requirements as part of their qualification criteria for applicants of social housing.

Next steps

The government is expected to publish its response to the consultation later this year. In the meantime, if you have any questions concerning the consultation or NHF’s work on domestic abuse, please get in touch using the details below.

Download our response