Tenants of social homes who are victims of domestic abuse get further tenancy

Lifetime tenants of social homes who are victims of domestic abuse will be granted a further lifetime tenancy under the Secure Tenancies (Victims of Domestic Abuse) Act 2018.

The grant of a further tenancy is dependent on whether: either the tenant had to leave their home to escape domestic abuse and are being re-housed by a local authority; or they are a joint tenant and wish to remain a tenant of their social home after the perpetrator has left or been removed and the local authority decides to grant them a further sole tenancy in their current home.

In essence, the Act extends to those who have lost their lifetime tenancy after they have fled their home as well as to those with an existing tenancy applying to move. It applies to all lifetime tenants of social housing, whether the person being re-housed and offered a new tenancy has a tenancy agreement with a local authority or a housing association.

The Act also extends the same level of protection to joint lifetime tenants of local authorities who have suffered domestic abuse but wish to remain in their home after the perpetrator has left or been removed, by ensuring that, if the local authority decides to grant the victim a further tenancy in these circumstances, it must be a lifetime tenancy.

The Act delivers on a commitment given by the Government at Lords Report stage of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 which was reiterated in the Conservative Party’s 2017 Manifesto.