Landlords will be given new powers to evict domestic abusers under a new Social Housing Bill progressing through parliament.
If passed, this will allow such abusers to be evicted without the victim having to leave first.
Currently, landlords can only evict a perpetrator after the victim has already left the home, and in joint tenancies, the only option for the victim is to end the tenancy entirely — potentially leaving them homeless.
The bill will also seek to close a loophole that lets abusers serve a Notice to Quit to make victims homeless.
Under the proposed new law, a Notice to Quit served by a perpetrator will not end the social housing joint tenancy while court proceedings are ongoing.
In addition, for joint tenancies, courts will be able to transfer the tenancy into the victim’s sole name, or where staying is not appropriate, require the landlord to provide suitable alternative accommodation where available.
“Victims of domestic abuse have faced an impossible choice — stay in danger or make themselves homeless,” said housing secretary Steve Reed.
“This is a moral failure [that] this government is determined to end and these changes are deeds not words that put victims first, give landlords the powers they need, and make sure perpetrators can no longer use housing as a weapon of control.”
Dame Nicole Jacobs, domestic abuser commissioner, added: “Alongside survivors and campaigners, I have been calling for action to be taken to stop perpetrators from weaponising joint tenancies — and I’m pleased to see that the government has listened.
“People experiencing domestic abuse need safety and stability in order to recover and rebuild free from harm.
“This will be an important step towards that for many.”
