DAHA Policy Response: Sentencing Reform, Survivor Safety & the Role of Housing

The UK Government’s new early release measures, including the "earned progression" model, have raised significant concerns across the domestic abuse and housing sectors. While serious offenders are reportedly excluded, there is no assurance that all domestic abuse perpetrators—particularly those convicted of coercive control and stalking—will be exempt from early release. 

Survivors of domestic abuse often experience heightened anxiety and vulnerability when perpetrators are released with little notice or oversight. This risk is compounded by an overstretched Probation Service, which may struggle to deliver the close monitoring needed to prevent reoffending. 

Without coordinated and trauma-informed support systems, these reforms could leave survivors unprotected—and housing providers on the frontline of crisis response. 

Domestic abuse is a housing issue. Safe, stable housing is one of the most critical factors in a survivor’s ability to recover and rebuild. Early release of perpetrators places added pressure on local authorities and housing providers to respond quickly, safely, and effectively to protect survivors. 

Housing teams are often the first point of contact for survivors who fear renewed abuse or harassment. In this context, housing providers are not just landlords—they are key players in safeguarding, early intervention, and system-wide prevention. 

What Housing Providers Can Do 

1. Be Alert and Survivor-Centred 

  • Review tenancy arrangements and safety planning processes. 
  • Ensure mechanisms are in place for confidential disclosures and safe flagging of risk. 

2. Strengthen Partnerships 

  • Proactively engage with local MARACs, domestic abuse services, and the Probation Service to ensure housing teams are notified if perpetrators are released. 
  • Establish joint protocols to manage cases involving early release and re-housing risks. 

3. Embed DAHA's Survivor-Led Standards 

  • Make use of DAHA’s accreditation framework to improve internal practice around risk management, casework, staff training, and survivor feedback. 
  • Prioritise emergency transfers and target hardening where needed. 

4. Ensure Staff Are Trained 

  • Equip staff to identify, assess, and manage the risks associated with early release scenarios, including understanding legal powers (e.g., injunctions, tenancy enforcement) and how to signpost survivors to specialist support. 

5. Escalate Concerns 

  • Where systems fail to protect survivors, housing providers can play a powerful role in raising safeguarding alerts, challenging gatekeeping, and pushing for cross-sector accountability. 

DAHA Calls on Government To: 

  • Explicitly exclude all domestic abuse perpetrators from early release schemes, regardless of offence type. 
  • Guarantee timely and secure notification to survivors about custody status changes. 
  • Resource and strengthen partnerships between housing providers, probation, and domestic abuse services. 

Housing can—and must—be a frontline response to domestic abuse. In light of these sentencing reforms, housing providers are in a unique position to prevent harm, reduce homelessness risk, and help build safety into survivors’ everyday lives. 

DAHA stands ready to support providers to meet this moment, and to ensure survivors are never left behind.