News

On a day dedicated to defending human rights around the world, Gloucester City Homes (GCH) has achieved the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA) Gold Accreditation – one of the highest award in the UK for excellence in domestic abuse practice within housing.

This recognition places GCH among a small number of housing providers nationally who have demonstrated sector-leading, whole-organisation commitment to ensuring that every resident’s right to safety, dignity, secure housing and freedom from violence is upheld in practice, not just in policy.

DAHA Gold Accreditation is widely regarded as one of the most rigorous quality standards in the UK housing sector, requiring strong evidence of survivor-led practice, trauma-informed responses, anti-racist and intersectional approaches, accountable perpetrator management, robust data systems, and lasting organisational culture change.

Announcing this accreditation on International Human Rights Day highlights the national significance of GCH’s achievement: a clear statement that safe housing is a human right, and that domestic abuse must be recognised as a human rights issue.

Attendees at the first in-person meeting of the Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse Housing Champions Network marked this achievement as they were welcomed by Nick Gazzard, Founder of The Hollie Gazzard Trust, and Caroline Lucas-Mouat, Domestic Abuse Programme Manager at Gloucestershire Housing Partnership. The programme featured contributions from key partners across the region, including Louise Artus, GDASS Safe Accommodation Leader; Jessica Waghorn, GDASS Housing IDVA; Sharne Maher, Chief Executive Officer at Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre; Emma Cashin, DAHA South West Regional Leader; and Jane Harvey, Chief Executive Officer at the Hollie Gazzard Trust. Their insights highlighted the strength of Gloucestershire’s coordinated community response and the collective commitment to improving safety and outcomes for survivors.

A Culture of Trust and Safety Rooted in Community

GCH’s CEO, Guy Stenson, reflected on the organisation’s deep roots in the city and its surrounding communities. He emphasised that in smaller towns and close-knit areas, “word spreads quickly” - making it critical that residents know they will be believed, supported and treated with dignity when they disclose abuse. DAHA assessors found this ethos embedded throughout GCH, visible at every level of the organisation.

Staff consistently spoke about domestic abuse as a priority, not an additional task. They highlighted how essential it is to look at the whole picture - the safety of children, school continuity, community support, risk, and long-term stability. Focus groups noted how partnership working has strengthened dramatically since beginning the DAHA journey, particularly around information sharing, referrals and coordinated responses.

One officer summarised their approach simply:

“You do have a choice; you don’t have to stay somewhere unsafe - and I will advocate for you.”

Exceptional Partnership Working and Community Response

External partners provided powerful endorsements:
• GDASS reported that GCH has become one of their largest referring housing providers, a significant shift compared to previous years.
• The Gloucester City Council Domestic Abuse Housing Coordinator praised the diversity of GCH’s steering group and noted that staff “really try to unpick the complexities and dynamics” of every case.
• Nelson Trust offered detailed examples of GCH officers “going above and beyond” to reduce risk, attend appointments, resolve tenancy issues and provide trauma-informed support in some of the most complex cases they have worked on.

Staff also spoke about working closely with communities, PCSOs, help groups, schools, and local charities. As one officer shared:

“We come together in that moment of crisis to provide wraparound support.”

Staff Wellbeing and Organisational Culture

DAHA assessors highlighted GCH’s commitment to staff wellbeing, including:

• Domestic Abuse Leave to allow colleagues to attend court, make arrangements, or seek support
• Short-term financial support for colleagues at risk of economic hardship due to changes in their domestic situation
• Eight trained Domestic Abuse Champions, making up nearly half of the county-wide Champions Network

These measures demonstrate that safety and support extend not only to residents but to staff across the organisation.

Trauma-Informed, Survivor-Led Practice in Action

Two case studies that really stood out during the assessment:

Tenancy Transfer: A Landmark Decision: After the perpetrator’s arrest, the survivor’s neighbours submitted a petition expressing their strong wish for her to remain in her home. GCH supported her to obtain a Tenancy Transfer Order - the first in the organisation’s history — recognising the importance of community support and continuity. Target hardening was promptly completed, and GCH provided advice to both parties while working closely with Nelson Trust to ensure ongoing safety.

Case: Compassion Beyond the Basics - In this highly complex case, GCH demonstrated exceptional partnership working, trauma-informed support and a deep understanding of the survivor’s needs. When the survivor’s injuries prevented her from eating properly - and because she was vegan - staff recognised that a standard food bank referral would not help. They coordinated, on the same day, a gift voucher and a blender through the Redwell Centre. They liaised with Nelson Trust, police, MARAC and multiple agencies to maintain safety planning, arrange target hardening and support a housing move. This case exemplified DAHA’s Gold principles: holistic practice, survivor-led responses and cross-agency collaboration.

Quote: Emma Storey, Executive Director of Housing, Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse

“Achieving DAHA Gold Accreditation is a huge achievement and speaks volumes about Gloucester City Homes’ commitment to safety, dignity, and human rights. This shows what is possible when a housing provider truly listens to survivors, challenges harmful systems, and invests in its people. GCH has built a culture where everyone understands the vital role that housing plays in preventing harm and helping people rebuild their lives. We are incredibly proud to recognise GCH as a DAHA Gold organisation on International Human Rights Day.”
Domestic abuse is a violation of fundamental human rights, and safe, secure housing is one of the most powerful ways to protect and uphold those rights.

GCH’s DAHA Gold Accreditation demonstrates the organisation’s commitment to creating communities where survivors are believed, supported and safe and where housing providers lead the way in preventing harm.

This achievement marks not just a milestone, but a promise: to continue embedding best practice, strengthening partnerships and ensuring that safety, dignity and human rights remain at the centre of everything GCH does.

This year marks a significant milestone for Islington Council. With both DAHA (Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance) Accreditation and Whole Housing Approach (WHA) Accreditation, Islington has become one of the first local authorities in the country to formally embed housing as a core part of its response to domestic abuse.

We recently met with Cllr John Woolf, Executive Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods, for a reflective conversation about Islington’s ongoing journey to place survivors at the heart of housing practice. Speaking openly about leadership, responsibility and hope, he shared how the borough’s Whole Housing Approach has been shaped not only by strategy and policy, but by the voices, experiences and courage of survivors themselves.

For Cllr Woolf, the starting point has always been clear: listen to survivors.

“Our inspiration came directly from survivors - those who had experienced horrific domestic abuse and who had come through our housing systems. We listened to the experts - the people living this - and responded to their needs, their concerns, and their direction.”

Islington faces some of the most severe housing pressures in the country, and domestic abuse is now one of the leading causes of homelessness in the borough. That reality shaped the Council’s commitment to take action.

“Domestic abuse is the second biggest driver of homelessness here. We have a moral and political imperative to respond - not only because of the wellbeing of individuals and families, but because this is a housing issue. We cannot separate the two.”

What has emerged is a whole-system model, firmly grounded in the Whole Housing Approach. The work brings housing teams together with specialist VAWG services, police, probation, health partners, community organisations and survivor advocates - not as separate agencies, but as a coordinated response to safety.

“Housing cannot solve this in isolation. This is about partnership - about moving away from silo working. Safety is a shared responsibility.”

One of the most distinctive shifts in Islington has been the move to a daily domestic abuse MARAC-style safeguarding meeting, held five days a week. While many councils review cases monthly, Islington responds in real time.

“We invested in holding MARAC daily. We see four or five complex cases every day. We know we are still only seeing the tip of the iceberg — but once systems are in place, they are needed, and they save lives.”

Training has also played a central role. The Council now has over 100 Domestic Abuse Champions across Housing Services - building confidence, awareness and shared responsibility across the workforce.

“We often think domestic abuse is a women’s issue. It is not. It is everyone’s responsibility. Training DA Champions reinforces that.”

Another defining feature of Islington’s approach is its focus on perpetrator accountability - ensuring the burden does not fall on survivors to repeatedly explain, justify or navigate risk alone.

“A survivor once told me, ‘I was constantly made to explain myself. The perpetrator was nowhere in the process.’ That stayed with me. We are clear: perpetrators must be visible and accountable. We do not tolerate abuse.”

Looking ahead, Cllr Woolf is determined to deepen and strengthen this work. He speaks of expanding the Whole Housing Approach, strengthening partnerships and ensuring responses reflect intersectionality, acknowledging that survivors’ experiences differ across identity, culture, community and disadvantage.

“Survivors are not a homogeneous group. We must work closely with LGBTQ+ survivors, with faith communities, and with people facing multiple disadvantage. Intersectionality must shape the response.”

His closing message to survivors is honest, humble and deeply human.

“We do our best, and our best is never good enough. There is always more to do. But within the Council, there are individuals who deeply care. It is your bravery and testimony that shapes our services. We are committed to being both preventative and responsive, and to continually improving the systems meant to keep people safe.”

Islington’s approach reflects something increasingly recognised across the sector:

Housing is not separate from domestic abuse work — housing is domestic abuse work.

The Whole Housing Approach shows how systems can shift - when survivors lead, when partnerships hold, and when councils act with purpose and clarity.

The Hourglass Safer Ageing Summit 2025 — the charity’s largest and most influential conference to date — brought together over 200 leaders, policymakers, academics and frontline practitioners committed to improving the safety, dignity and visibility of older people across the UK. 

Keynote contributions from Alex Davies-Jones MP (Minister for Victims and Tackling VAWG), Jess Phillips MP (Minister for Safeguarding), Kaukab Stewart MSP (Minister for Equalities), and Dame Nicole Jacobs (Domestic Abuse Commissioner) delivered a powerful shared message: abuse of older people can no longer remain unseen or unprioritised. 

Our team member, Nika Noakes, spoke on the panel Housing, Ageism and Abuse: Tackling Hidden Harm in Our Communities, alongside an exceptional line-up of experts. Her contribution received overwhelmingly positive feedback from delegates across housing, health, justice and the voluntary sector. 

The panel opened with key statistics: 

• 2.7 million people aged 65+ have been affected by abuse in the UK (Hourglass, 2024) 

• Older people in the most deprived areas experience the highest loneliness rates — 11% (Community Life Survey, 2024) 

• Disabled adults report chronic loneliness at five times the rate of non-disabled adults (Community Life Survey, 2024) 

• Loneliness is strongly linked to vulnerability to abuse (Campaign to End Loneliness) 

These figures underscore a stark reality: older people are not protected by age — age can heighten the risk of harm. And housing is often the environment where that harm is both experienced and hidden. 

Housing as a Safeguarding System 

Older people often encounter systems that: 

• underestimate their risk, 

• misinterpret or normalise signs of harm, 

• overlook housing instability, 

• assume safety due to age, 

• or provide inaccessible support pathways. 

A key message shared widely across the Summit was: 

“Housing is not just a roof - it’s a frontline safeguarding space.” 

Housing providers are often the professionals with the most regular contact with older residents. With the right training and frameworks, they become crucial in preventing, identifying and responding to abuse. 

DAHA’s National Role 

The panel explored the work of the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA), which supports over 160 housing providers and local authorities to embed trauma-informed, intersectional domestic abuse practice. 

DAHA Accreditation focuses on eight core areas, including leadership, risk management, survivor voice, partnership working, data-sharing and frontline response. Delegates strongly engaged with the work of the DAHA Policy & Practice Group, which brings together more than 90 organisations to influence national standards and champion housing as a core safeguarding partner. 

Whole Housing Approach and Whole Systems Response 

An important theme in the discussion was the role of the Whole Housing Approach (WHA) — ensuring every part of the housing system, from allocations to repairs to homelessness, contributes to identifying and responding to domestic abuse. 

WHA aligns directly with DAHA’s Coordinated Community Response (CCR) principles: placing survivors at the centre, joining up systems that are often fragmented, and ensuring no agency is working in isolation. Delegates recognised WHA as a true Whole Systems Response, where housing, health, social care and justice partners work collectively to reduce harm, increase safety and improve outcomes for older people. 

Housing Insecurity and Later-Life Risk 

The panel also examined how housing insecurity compounds risk for older survivors facing: 

• financial hardship, 

• insecure tenancies, 

• poor housing conditions, 

• loss of independent living support, 

• temporary or supported accommodation. 

These conditions increase dependence, reduce autonomy and limit help-seeking opportunities. This connects closely to DAHA’s Homelessness & Supported Accommodation Accreditation, which ensures older people in temporary or supported settings do not fall through safeguarding gaps. 

Loneliness, Isolation and Risk 

Loneliness is one of the strongest predictors of harm in later life. When older people experience bereavement, reduced mobility or declining health, perpetrators often exploit increased reliance and isolation. 

Nika summarised this clearly: 

“Connection is protection. When housing reduces isolation, it reduces risk.” 

Housing professionals frequently notice subtle signs: withdrawal from community spaces, restricted access to keys or finances, increased control by an adult child, or sudden changes in behaviour — small indicators that often precede crisis. 

A recurring theme across the Summit was the need for much closer alignment between: 

• housing 

• adult social care 

• health 

• policing 

• probation 

• voluntary sector providers 

Older survivors are too frequently passed between disconnected systems, each assuming another service will act. The message was clear: housing must be recognised as a core safeguarding partner at every stage. 

Delegates described this year’s Summit as one of the most powerful Hourglass has delivered, with the housing, ageism and abuse panel standing out for its clarity, compassion and practical direction. 

There was a shared commitment across the room: 
older people deserve safety, dignity, visibility and justice — now, not in 2050. 

Sincere thanks were extended to Hourglass for hosting such a timely and compelling event, and for their continuing leadership on safer ageing across the UK. 

The work continues through: 

• DAHA Accreditation 

• Homelessness & Supported Accommodation Accreditation 

• stronger housing-led safeguarding pathways 

• improved multi-agency integration 

• intersectional, age-inclusive policy development 

• survivor-led approaches across all services 

A final message from the panel captured the spirit of the day: 

“Ageism makes older survivors invisible — housing makes them visible again.” 

New research released recently by the University of Lancashire and hailed by MPs as a ‘break-through for breaking free’, shows a special scheme to provide domestic abuse survivors with safe housing options prevents their homelessness, supports their safety, and can save Councils money.

The evaluation of the Domestic Abuse Whole Housing Approach, delivered by Cheshire East Council and Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse (STADA), has been welcomed by MPs, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner and survivor groups.

Sophie*, one of the survivors of domestic abuse who benefited from the scheme said:

“I’m no longer scared inside my house… I’m grateful for all the help I’ve had… I just can’t wait to start this new life.”

A new model for coordinated housing support

Speaking in advance of the research launch event in London Paula Barker MP, co-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Ending Homelessness, said:

“This is a break-through for breaking-free. These results make a clear case for Councils to invest in a range of safe and dignified options for survivors and their children. Whether its funding for fitting new locks, or swap schemes with other Councils to enable a victim to move out of the area, finally we have a cost-effective plan for councils who have a duty to do right for victims of abuse, including children.”

 

Along with colleague, Dave Robertson MP, for Lichfield, Paula Barker MP has written to the Secretary of State for Housing and Local Government to encourage him to learn the lessons of the pilot. 

Speaking about the Whole Housing Approach scheme, Dame Nicole Jacobs, Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, said:

“It’s critical for experts and practitioners across England and Wales. It’s really exceptional work. It’s broadening our ambition, giving concrete evaluation and insight into the kinds of things that we need to do more of.”

 

Key Findings

The evaluation found that 98% of survivors at risk of homelessness and owed support by the local authority were prevented from becoming homeless.

It also showed that the scheme saved councils more money than it cost, generating over £10 in savings for every £1 spent across public services, thanks to avoided costs such as police time and NHS responses.

Tens of thousands of people are made homeless or are at risk of homelessness each year due to domestic abuse (DA)[1] often with devastating consequences for victims and their children. Equally, the prospect of homelessness can trap victims in dangerous, abusive homes.

Championing partnership working

Afrah Qassim, CEO of Savera UK, a leading charity working with survivors of ‘honour’-based abuse said:

“The needs of survivors of domestic abuse are broad and varied, particularly when it comes to specific forms of abuse such as Honour Based Abuse and harmful practices. Engaging specialist ‘by and for’ services and those with lived experience of these issues is vital to meeting those needs. The Whole Housing Approach project is an outstanding example of how, when local authorities meaningfully engage specialist services and survivors, they can considerably improve outcomes, such as increased feelings of safety and reduced anxiety. We fully support the approach championed by Cheshire East Council and Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse and thank our clients for their participation in the project.”

 

Emma Storey, Director of Housing at STADA, said:

“Housing help for domestic abuse victims often focuses on the moment of crisis – like the moment when a woman takes the decision to flee with a child in each hand a rucksack over her shoulder. Help then is crucial. But we need to be better at stopping those awful crises from ever happening. We can do this by supporting victims to stay safe in their own homes or with relocation, or by removing perpetrators. This research gives Councils a blueprint for action.”

 

Councillor Laura Crane, chair of Cheshire East Council’s children and families committee, said:

“We are incredibly proud that Cheshire East has been a part of The Whole Housing Approach. It is a powerful example of how smart, compassionate policy can deliver both social impact and financial sustainability. Through strong partnerships, we are ensuring survivors receive the highest standard of care.”

 

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statutory-homelessness-domestic-abuse-cohort-data-2022-23

The Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA) welcomes the passing of the Renters’ Rights Act following its Royal Assent today. This legislation marks one of the most significant advancements in tenant protection in a generation, with vital implications for survivors of domestic abuse who are disproportionately affected by housing insecurity and unsafe tenancy conditions.

The abolition of Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions is a critical milestone. For too long, survivors have been forced to choose between remaining in danger or risking homelessness. Strengthened tenancy security enables survivors to seek support, assert their rights and rebuild their lives with greater safety, dignity and stability, without the fear of retaliation or displacement.

This progress requires more than policy change alone, it must be implemented through coordinated, trauma-informed housing responses that understand domestic abuse as a housing, safeguarding, and community safety issue, shaped by the experiences and needs of survivors themselves.

At the centre of this work is the Whole Housing Approach (WHA), that ensures that survivors have real options across all housing tenures, supporting safety, stability and long-term recovery. WHA is, in practice, a Coordinated Community Response (CCR): agencies, professionals and services working together, consistently and with shared responsibility for survivor safety.

“This is a historic moment for renters across the country, and one that holds particular significance for survivors of domestic abuse. The end of Section 21 removes a long-standing barrier to safety and autonomy. Housing is not just shelter, it is foundational to dignity, recovery and choice. The Whole Housing Approach shows what is possible when local authorities, housing providers and specialist services work together in a true Coordinated Community Response. As this Act moves into implementation, DAHA and Standing Together remain committed to ensuring that these new protections are delivered in ways that are consistent, survivor-centred and grounded in best practice.”
– Emma Storey, Executive Director of Housing, Standing Together

DAHA will continue to support the sector to:

• Ensure pathways for survivors are clearly identifiable, accessible and trauma-informed across all housing settings.
• Strengthen recording, monitoring and accountability frameworks so that safety is visible, coordinated and trackable.
• Build housing workforce confidence and competence in responding safely and consistently to domestic abuse.
• Embed a Whole Housing Approach approach ensuring local systems work together rather than in isolation.
• Expand uptake of DAHA Accreditation and core standards, supporting more local authorities, housing associations and providers nationally to embed best practice in policy, procedure and culture change.

Growing engagement in the DAHA Standards framework will be central to bringing these reforms to life ensuring survivors are met with consistent, safe and equitable responses wherever they seek housing support.

We remain committed to working across the housing and domestic abuse sectors to ensure that every survivor has the right to a home that is safe, secure, and free from harm and to building the partnerships necessary to make that a reality.

DAHA reflection statement

Embedding Safety and Equity: Sustaining Momentum in Housing Responses to Domestic Abuse

The passing of the Renters’ Rights Act has shifted the landscape of housing protection across England. For survivors of domestic abuse, stronger tenancy security represents an opportunity to make decisions with greater safety and stability. But legislation alone does not guarantee safety, how these protections are delivered in practice matters just as much as the law itself.

Across the housing sector, we continue to see disparities in the support survivors receive. Structural racism, immigration barriers, ableism, homophobia and class inequality continue to influence both access to housing and experiences of domestic abuse. This reinforces the need for responses that are not only trauma-informed, but actively anti-racist and inclusive.

The Whole Housing Approach (WHA) provides a framework to do this. When embedded through a Coordinated Community Response (CCR), it ensures that survivors have meaningful options across all housing pathways and that agencies work together with shared accountability for safety.

This year, more local authorities and housing providers have begun or strengthened their journey toward DAHA Accreditation and core standards, recognising that consistent, survivor-centred practice requires organisational commitment and culture change. At the same time, there remains variation nationally, and ongoing support, resourcing and leadership will be crucial to ensuring equitable access to safety.

DAHA will continue to:

• Support organisations to develop clear, accessible and survivor-driven housing pathways.
• Strengthen policy, workforce capability and leadership accountability.
• Increase uptake of DAHA Accreditation and Standards to embed consistent best practice nationally.
• Ensure survivor experience continues to guide and challenge system improvement.

Our focus remains clear: Housing is central to safety, prevention, and long-term recovery.

We will continue working alongside housing providers, specialist domestic abuse services and local authorities to ensure that every survivor, everywhere, is met with a response that is safe, equitable and free from harm.

Reflection: Strengthening Housing Responses: An Anti-Racist & Intersectional Approach to Domestic Abuse

At the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA), our commitment to embedding anti-racism and intersectionality is rooted in a simple but vital principle: survivors, and survivor safety, must always be at the centre of our work.

We know that domestic abuse does not impact everyone equally. Survivors’ experiences are shaped by multiple and overlapping forms of discrimination - whether based on race, gender, disability, sexuality, migration status, age, or other identities. These intersecting inequalities too often determine not only how survivors experience abuse, but also how, or whether, they are able to access safety, housing, and justice.

For housing providers and local authorities, this is an urgent call to action. Now is the time to look closely at your policies and procedures, to ask hard questions about whether they truly reflect the needs of all survivors, and to take proactive steps to remove barriers. Embedding anti-racist and intersectional approaches isn’t an add-on – it is best practice. It ensures that our housing responses are inclusive, equitable, and survivor-led.

We also believe this is a moment to unite and to show the power of community. By standing together, learning from one another, and committing to change, we can build responses that don’t just meet minimum standards but that truly protect and empower every survivor.

At DAHA, we will continue to champion this work – not only by setting standards and sharing best practice, but also by amplifying the voices of survivors and ensuring that their lived experiences drive everything we do.

Now is the time to shine a light on what is working well, to be honest about where improvements are needed, and to commit, together, to creating a housing sector that is safe, inclusive, and just for all.

At DAHA, we are strongly committed to embedding anti-racist and intersectional principles in all housing reforms. In a time when political narratives around immigration can sow division - and where exclusionary approaches to diverse communities threaten safety and equality - it is more vital than ever that housing policy reflects the cultural richness of the UK.

Survivors of domestic abuse come from all backgrounds. Housing must be a gateway to safety, never a barrier shaped by racism, xenophobia, or bias. We affirm our responsibility to ensure that DAHA standards centre survivor-centred, culturally informed practice, grounded in equity and the lived realities of the global majority. We proudly stand with survivors.

“This is why the Whole Housing Approach (WHA) matters to us. It brings together all housing tenure types with tailored support and advocacy so that survivors can access or maintain safe and stable housing. At DAHA, we are committed to embedding this approach through an anti-racist, intersectional lens - because safe housing is a right for everyone, and we cannot leave any survivor behind.”
— Emma Storey, Director of Housing, STADA

We renew our pledge to work alongside local authorities, housing providers, and grassroots organisations to uphold Equality, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion - not just in policy, but in practice.

We are proud to celebrate Islington Council as the first London borough to be awarded Platinum Accreditation by the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA) — a groundbreaking milestone that sets a new benchmark in housing sector excellence under the Whole Housing Approach.

This prestigious recognition reflects Islington’s exceptional leadership in creating a whole-system response to domestic abuse, placing survivors' voices and lived experiences at the heart of housing practice. From early intervention to long-term safety and stability, Islington has demonstrated what’s possible when trauma-informed, survivor-centred, and justice-driven approaches are embedded across services.

Key to this transformation has been:

• Over 100 trained Domestic Abuse Champions across housing teams,
• A partnership-based model with Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse,
• Deep collaboration with LGBTQ+ groups, faith communities, and community level, grassroots organisations, and
• A powerful cultural shift that puts trust, dignity, and safety at the core of service delivery.

As Ian Swift, Director of Housing Operations & Deputy Corporate Director at Islington Council, powerfully shared: “This is not the end — it’s the beginning of the beginning. If Islington can do it, any borough can.”

This achievement not only celebrates Islington’s innovation and commitment but serves as a call to action for other boroughs and housing providers. The Platinum Accreditation shows how housing can be a platform for healing, not harm, and how bold leadership can turn policy into life-changing practice.

Congratulations to all the internal champions, survivors, and staff whose unwavering dedication made this moment possible.

Together, we raise the bar — and the standard.

Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse & DAHA respond to the Prime Minister's Announcement on removing the local connection test for survivors.

We welcome the Prime Minister’s announcement at the Labour Party Conference this week that domestic abuse victims will now have the right to apply for social housing in any local authority across the country for life.

A home isn’t always a safe place. For many survivors escaping abuse means leaving their local authority area to be safe. We have long highlighted the inconsistency between local authorities across England in meeting their obligations to house women fleeing domestic abuse from another local area.

Guidance alone is not sufficient to address this issue. We have been advocating for a statutory bar on local authorities imposing local connection restrictions or ‘residency requirements’ within their homelessness duties and housing allocations policies for survivors. These frequently and disproportionately harm those escaping domestic abuse, often forcing them to remain in unsafe situations. By eliminating these barriers, we can ensure that survivors have choices and greater access to the vital resources they need to rebuild their lives. 

Our response to the previous government’s consultation on local connection submitted in May 2022, highlighted how these requirements limit the choices and opportunities available to survivors. The announcement from the Prime Minister yesterday aligns with our vision for a more compassionate and effective housing policy. It is a significant step for survivors face when they seek safe and stable housing.

We call on Government to implement this swiftly. Local authorities must be equipped to support survivors to access the housing they need. Standing Together, we can and must create safer, supportive environments for those who experience domestic abuse.

Cherryl Henry-Leach

Chief Executive Officer,

Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse

Press Release

We call on the Government to protect survivors of domestic abuse and all vulnerable tenants in the upcoming Renters’ Rights Bill

The National Housing and Domestic Abuse Policy and Practice Group ("the Group" brings together experts from the housing, domestic abuse, and violence against women and girls’ (VAWG) sectors from commissioning, charity, and policy perspectives. We support statutory agencies, government departments, and the private sector to deliver safe and suitable housing for survivors of domestic abuse.

As the UK Government prepares to introduce the Renters’ Rights Bill later today, there is so much to welcome, we await to see the details and the Group is urging the Government to ensure that any new legislation considers and adequately protects survivors of domestic abuse. While the proposed Bill includes important measures to strengthen tenant protections, we highlight the critical need for specific provisions to address the unique challenges faced by domestic abuse survivors.

We support the ending of all unfair evictions, making renting safer, and ensuring affordability. However, we stress that tackling rising rents, scrapping Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions, and enforcing stronger standards must also include specific safeguards for survivors of domestic abuse. This includes preventing the misuse of ASB complaints as a tool to evict those fleeing abuse.

In our submission to the previous government’s Renters (Reform) Public Bill Committee, we emphasised that domestic abuse survivors are three times more likely to have an Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) complaint lodged against them. Misidentifying domestic abuse as ASB can lead to unjust evictions, further endangering survivors. We call on the government to adequately address this issue within the new legislative framework.

DAHA with the Group also welcomes the government’s proposals to strengthen local authorities’ enforcement powers and establish a new ombudsman service. However, we urge that these measures be complemented by increased support for survivors, including better access to legal aid and resources for local authorities to uphold tenants’ rights effectively.

As the Renters’ Rights Bill progresses, DAHA will continue to advocate for the protection and empowerment of domestic abuse survivors, ensuring they are not left vulnerable within the private rented sector. The Government must grab this opportunity to create a fair, safe, and supportive housing environment for all renters, particularly the most vulnerable.

We very much look forward to seeing the details of the new Bill and to working with the Government on the details so that the Group can be confident that every victim/survivor of domestic abuse can access safe and secure housing.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Judith Vickress
Head of Housing
Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse
j.vickress@standingtogether.org.uk

About Standing Together and DAHA:
The Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA) is part of the Housing Team programmes within Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse, a national charity bringing communities together to end domestic abuse. The DAHA Programme is dedicated to improving the housing sector’s response to domestic abuse. Through accreditation, training, and advocacy, DAHA works to ensure that every survivor of domestic abuse can access safe and secure housing.

18 May 2023

Yesterday, the long-awaited Renters Reform Bill had its first reading in Parliament, fulfilling many of the ambitions set out within the Renters Reform White Paper, to ‘reset the balance of rights and responsibilities between tenants and landlords’.  The most prominent and welcomed aspect of the bill is the end of Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions, which has caused housing insecurity and homelessness for many private renters, including victims of domestic abuse living in the private rented sector (PRS).

There are now more victims of domestic abuse living in the PRS than ever before, in part due to the growth of the PRS, but also due to a significant lack of social housing, with many victims of domestic abuse having no other choice but to take on PRS tenancies, which have often been insecure, unaffordable, and, unsafe. In the context of a cost-of-living crisis, including soaring rents, and local housing allowance rates that do not meet rental demands, many victims of domestic abuse (many of whom are single women with children) are placed in positions of great hardship and the risk of homelessness, in addition to the ever-present threat of harm and homicide.

By removing Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions, and the government’s commitment to take future action to address discrimination against tenants with children, we hope victims of domestic abuse will face fewer housing barriers to achieving safety.  However, we continue to be concerned that this will be undermined by the changes proposed within the bill to make it easier for landlords to evict on grounds of anti-social behaviour (ASB) and rent arrears. This includes, broadening the discretionary ASB ground for eviction to ‘’any behaviour capable of causing nuisance or annoyance’’ as well as introducing a new mandatory ground for repeat serious arrears, as detailed within the White Paper.  

Victims of domestic abuse are significantly more likely to have ASB complaints made against, often due to the misidentification of domestic abuse as ASB.  Victims of domestic abuse are also more likely to be in rent arrears, both as a direct result of economic abuse, and due to the economic and practical burden of fleeing abuse and becoming homeless, often with their children (victims of domestic abuse in their own right). With no proposed safeguards in place to protect victims of domestic abuse from evictions related to domestic abuse, we fear this will lead to harm and homelessness. As a result, victims of domestic abuse may become more dependent on their abuser and make it even more difficult to leave.

We have worked closely alongside the DAHA-led National Housing and Domestic Abuse Policy and Practice Group to publish a detailed briefing on the impact of the proposed changes through the RRB on victims of domestic abuse in cases of ASB. We make clear recommendations for how the government can safeguard victims of domestic abuse and other vulnerable tenants, including those at risk of other forms of abuse or exploitation or in need of health or social care support. These recommendations included:

• not expanding the ground’s definition to “any behaviour ‘capable’ of causing nuisance or annoyance”
• introducing a pre-eviction ASB protocol for landlords and managing agents.
• a commitment to the professionalisation of the PRS which ensures landlords and managing agents are equipped to fulfil their legal obligations to their tenants.
• developing guidance for landlords and managing agents on responding to ASB and rent arrears, including links between ASB, rent arrears and domestic abuse (accessible within the new property portal) as well as guidance for judges.

We look forward to further scrutinising the bill, which will undoubtedly lead to further recommendations from our National Group, particularly in the areas of rent arrears. We want to work with sector partners, government, and parliamentarians to ensure the bill works to protect all renters, which must include victims of domestic abuse living in the PRS who already face far too many barriers to safety and housing insecurity.

For more information and any press enquiries, please contact the DAHA National Group Chair and Senior Housing Manager, Deidre Cartwright, by emailing: d.cartwright@standingtogether.org.uk

Today, our DAHA-led National Housing & Domestic Abuse Policy & Practice Group published a joint briefing on domestic abuse and the Renters (Reform) Bill, in hopeful anticipation of its second reading in parliament. 

While we support several aspects of the bill, we remain greatly concerned that proposed changes to anti-social behaviour and repeat rent arrears eviction grounds will place victims of domestic abuse at a greater risk of harm and homelessness. As a result, victims of domestic abuse may become more dependent on their abuser and face greater barriers to leaving.   

In our briefing we make clear recommendations for how the government can ensure victims of domestic abuse are not placed at risk of eviction because of their experiences of domestic abuse, due to rent arrears and the misidentification of domestic abuse as anti-social behaviour.  

Please read and share our briefing, support our recommendations, and raise the profile of this important issue.  

Briefing link: https://www.dahalliance.org.uk/media/11293/renters-reform-bill-briefing_june23.pdf