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Written Question
Mortgages: Domestic Abuse
Monday 16th February 2026

Asked by: Pam Cox (Labour - Colchester)

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will update the Homelessness Code of Guidance to ensure that domestic abuse survivors who have joint mortgages with abusers are not refused the main housing duty because they are homeowners.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Homelessness Code of Guidance sets out that where there would be a probability of abuse if an applicant continued to occupy their present accommodation, the housing authority must treat the applicant as homeless and should not expect them to remain in, or return to, the accommodation. This includes survivors who are homeowners.