The UK government is set to introduce new legal measures allowing social landlords and courts to evict domestic abusers without requiring victims to leave their homes first. The proposed changes, featured in the Social Housing Bill scheduled for a second reading in Parliament, aim to address what ministers have described as a “moral failure” in how domestic abuse cases involving social housing are currently handled.

Statistics from last year indicate that around 15,000 households in England faced the prospect of relocating due to domestic abuse. Under existing legislation, landlords can only remove an abuser after the victim has vacated the property, often forcing survivors out of their homes and increasing the risk of homelessness. Additionally, in cases of joint tenancies, victims currently have no choice but to end the tenancy altogether, which can further destabilize their living situation.

The forthcoming legislation would close a loophole allowing perpetrators to terminate joint tenancies unilaterally if court proceedings are underway, ensuring victims can remain in their homes while legal action is pursued. It would also empower courts to transfer tenancies solely into the victim’s name and compel landlords to provide alternative accommodation when remaining in the current residence is unsafe or inappropriate.

Dame Nicole Jacobs, the domestic abuse commissioner, described the reforms as “an important step” that would help survivors rebuild their lives free from harm. She noted the difficult position victims are placed in when forced to choose between staying in an abusive environment or facing homelessness and financial hardship.

Housing Secretary Steve Reed characterized the existing framework as a “moral failure” and affirmed that the planned changes would prioritize victims’ safety, grant landlords enhanced authority, and prevent abusers from exploiting housing arrangements as a means of control.

In addition to addressing domestic abuse, the Social Housing Bill proposes significant reforms to the Right to Buy scheme, including extending eligibility from three to ten years, safeguarding newly constructed social homes for 35 years, and strengthening councils’ rights of first refusal for property buybacks. The government contends that these measures will support a more sustainable and secure social housing sector overall.