Consultation on the impacts of joint tenancies on victims of domestic abuse

During the passage of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, concerns were raised over the current rules on joint tenancies, which mean that victims of domestic abuse who are in a joint tenancy with their abuser can be vulnerable to the threat of being made homeless by their abuser. Should the victim want to stay in the family home, there is currently no straightforward means to remove the abuser from the tenancy and remove the risk of homelessness.

The government has been carefully considering these issues. This consultation will enable us to better understand the complex legal and practical issues.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is seeking views on the impacts of the law on joint tenancies on victims of domestic abuse in the social rented sector. We are interested in whether:

• perpetrators are using their ability to end a joint tenancy to threaten the victim with homelessness;
• victims feel trapped in their joint tenancy with the perpetrator;
• the current guidance for social landlords is sufficient to support victims in joint tenancies; and
• the law on transferring joint tenancies is functioning successfully for victims.

We are gathering evidence from victims, landlords, the legal profession, advisory services and other organisations and individuals associated with the domestic abuse sector with an understanding of the issues impacting victims in joint social housing tenancies.