The excellent article by Cornerstone barrister Tara O'Leary below is a really helpful summary of the new Domestic Abuse Act 2021 housing-related provisions which came into force on 6 July 2021.
A statutory definition for the first time of domestic abuse; a wide definition of "relatives", an additional offence of strangulation or suffocation added to the list of serious offences which can support the mandatory anti-social behaviour ground for possession and rewritten homelessness guidance.
The duty on local housing authorities to grant secure lifetime tenancies to victims is not yet in force. No date yet known. There is a factsheet from May 2021 which explains the duty in outline.
Do note that duty is not extended to housing associations, only to local housing authorities.
This long-awaited legislation should start helping to improve support to victims of domestic abuse as more of its provisions come into force.
The Domestic Abuse Act 2021: What does it mean for social housing providers? 06.07.2021 By Tara O’Leary The Domestic Abuse Act (“DAA”) received royal assent on 29 April 2021 following a much-delayed journey through Parliament. The Act will have important ramifications for social housing providers – including changes for homelessness under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 which came into effect on 5 July 2021. Here is a summary of what to expect.
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