Conservative-run Barnet council recently announced a review of housing allocations policy, which will force victims of domestic violence to declare themselves homeless in order to be rehoused away from their abusers. The council’s plan will effectively strip domestic violence victims of their right to be prioritised for permanent rehousing in the top band on the housing register, and will also strip them of any permanent tenancy and succession rights if they are already in council accommodation.
The issue of securing rights to a safe and secure home for survivors of domestic violence is a matter of paramount importance, and a failure by government at both a national and local to address housing supply is clearly trickling down to brutal effect upon some of our most vulnerable across the borough, including survivors of domestic violence.
Now, more than ever, councils have a responsibility to ensure that the most vulnerable in our society are protected and safeguarded – particularly men and women who suffer from domestic abuse. National policy changes have meant that refuges are at crisis point, as a coalition of women’s charities pointed out just over a week ago.
And after the point at which there is placement by a woman in a refuge, there is currently no clear pathway into safe and secure housing from crisis point. Any local authority seeking to make progress on an early intervention and prevention agenda that secures positive outcomes for all residents across the borough needs to be able to ensure that housing allocation policies reflect the need for secure accommodation across the board, particularly for domestic violence victims and survivors, many of whom are parents and many of whom may fall within the category of ‘troubled families’ whose lives we should be working to turn around.
There is also a moral, as well as social and economic argument to be made for increased rights for victims and survivors of domestic violence – policies such as Barnet council’s unfairly reward the perpetrators of violence who could be allowed to remain in the family home while their victims are forced to make themselves homeless to escape their abusers. They set a dangerous precedent and they communicate the wrong message entirely about the rights that domestic violence survivors and victims have, and the value we place upon them.
That is why I have started a petition to stop the Barnet Conservative party from implementing their policies, and why I invite Progress readers to join me in support. To join my campaign you can sign this petition here.
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Reema Patel is a councillor in the London borough of Barnet and secretary of Fabian Women’s Network. She tweets @ReemaSPatel
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Bit unclear what the Tory policy you’re denouncing is and is not, Reema. What you’ve written might not be very different from both landlord and homelessness practice in lots of Labour Councils
If the DV victim is a tenant, there is a landlord responsibility to deal with the situation. But it is the victim that has to go to Court [hopefully with good support!] and get the perpetrator banned from the home. A joint tenancy has one important thing in common with an intimate relationship; it only takes one to end it. So if a victim is offered a transfer to a sole tenancy and ends a joint tenancy, the perpetrator is out.
If violence is a reason for divorce, the victim should ask the County Court Judge for the ownership or tenancy of the former marital home, whether it was joint or sole during the marriage.
How to tell the difference between an experienced and an inexperienced housing officer? An inexperienced housing officer asks a DV victim if she has been to the Police. An experienced housing officer asks a DV victim “what did the Poiice say?”
Your article is of great interest to me. I myself live in a Tory run district in Sussex.
I have been a victim of domestic abuse. Yet my local council told me just before Christmas to stay with a friend and declare myself homeless.
I have a 16 year old in the middle of their GCSEs and a dog. i have no right to stay in my exes private rented property as he would not put me on the tenancy, despite my paying half the deposit and getting all the references done. He basically used financial abuse and put me in a position that I was reliant on him alone. I gave up a good job to look after him. And apart from food I had to use savings for everything else.
There was also sexual and verbal and physical abuse.
Because I finally stood up to him after he threatened my child and dog I decided to leave. The council first tried to offer me rent deposit scheme but only for £803 PCM This amount would only get me a 1 bed flat. The council said if I went for that I’d only get £630 PCM. Also no agents would touch me as I’m not working.
I signed on at the job centre before Xmas but due to all the bank holidays I still have not had any money or decision not even an acknowledgment letter. The lady at the job centre was brilliant though, full of information for someone in my position. It’s just the wrong time of year.
I returned to his house as he has taken a flat as the tenancy is up in 2,weeks. So I could pack my belongings and furniture.
I’m am terrified I will see him. I live in fear.
I rang the council last week and they had a skeleton staff. My housing officer was on Xmas leave. I was told I had filled out an application for housing but hadnt declared myself homeless, I questioned this because I thought that tha s what I had been before Xmas while staying at my friends.
I believe the council just toss you aside fed me bad advice and gave me the wrong forms to reduce the homeless figures that then impact on their government reports.
During this phone call I was told that I had a choice. Declare myself homeless or domestic abuse. If I do the latter I will be forced to live in another district away from my family and friends and my child would have to change schools in year 11 5 months before her GCSEs. Which is unacceptable, her future cannot be compromised, I am not leaving my support network and the town I was born in.
I am seeing the council in 2 days. I expect to be housed in a hostel. But I’m not a priority as I do not work. I know of people being kept in these places for up to a year with children. How my daughter will manage is a worry.
My dog is being fostered. We are the victims yet the man who done this to us has told people he is the victim as I’m a freeloader, and he’s broken hearted. He’ will never admit the damage he has caused. Apparently I should have “talked” to him and I’ve put myself in this position.
Anyway he has moved on. Already on dating sites looking for his next victim. Going out and about.
But nothing would make me go back. I’m free from him. But now I have to face a huge fight to restart my life. I just hope my child can still do well at school despite him and the conditions we will be forced to live in
I feel so let down by the LA we are the victims yet the perpetrator is unaffected.
No wonder some women feel they have no choice but to stay in violent relationships.