Safer at home
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Are you being abused by a family member or (ex) partner? You don't want to move house, but want to feel safer in your home?
To have additional security in your home, you must:
- Be experiencing domestic abuse, or have experienced it in the past (and not living in the same home as the abuser).
- Want to stay in your home.
- Have the right to live there.
- Have an occupation order if the abuser has the right to live there.
- Have permission from the property owner for the additional security to be put in place.
- Be at risk of becoming homeless if help is not provided.
You can complete a referral form online.
Once the referral has been completed and received, an assessment will take place. A member of staff will make contact with you to make further arrangements.
Secure Tenancies
The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 requires local authorities to offer the victim/survivor a new sole tenancy in their own home. If the local authority is satisfied that the tenant or a member of their household has been a victim of domestic violence and abuse, the new tenancy is granted in connection with that abuse.
The landlord has the power to seek a court order to bring the tenancy to an end and evict the perpetrator. The landlord could then grant a new tenancy to the victim in their home. Where the victim had a joint lifetime tenancy with the perpetrator, a new sole tenancy will also be on a lifetime basis.
Safety Planning
Having a safety plan is another measure you can take. It will help protect you and your family. We advise that you contact a domestic abuse specialist service to complete a safety plan with you. You can read about a safety plan on the Women’s Aid website.