Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department issues to social landlords on transfer of tenancy agreements to victims of domestic violence when that person's relationship with their abusive partner ends and the victim remains the sole adult tenant after the ex-partner moves out.

The Department has not issued guidance to social landlords including local authorities, regarding managing tenancy agreements of victims of domestic violence who are joint tenants when the abusive partner moves out.

Local authorities have powers to take action against joint tenants who commit domestic abuse against their partners including a power under the Housing Act 1985 to apply to the court to evict such perpetrators and have the discretion to grant a new tenancy to the victim.

Many local authorities use these powers as part of their proactive approach towards assisting tenants affected by domestic abuse to remain in their homes safely if they choose to do so.

Domestic abuse is a devastating crime, and Government has put in place a number of measures to provide necessary support to victims.

Our Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, launched earlier this year, set out our ambition to improve services for women suffering from domestic abuse, dedicating £40 million of extra funding for securing the future of refuges and other specialist accommodation-based services. This builds on the £13.5 million provided in the last spending review period. In addition, we will be providing a wider package of support, including commissioning guidance and tools, and expert support to help all local areas improve local commissioning, support early intervention and develop coherent pathways of support for victims of these crimes. This provides a critical bedrock of support.

In taking forward the provisions in the Housing and Planning Act 2016 that restrict the use of lifetime tenancies, we will also ensure that the security of tenure of victims of domestic abuse continues to be protected.