New bill targets domestic abuse evictions, extends right to buy wait in England
A new bill in England will allow social housing landlords to evict domestic abuse perpetrators without the victim having to leave their home first. The bill also increases the tenancy length required for right to buy from three to ten years. It will be debated in the House of Lords on Monday, after being announced in King Charles’s speech on 13 May. According to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, about 15,000 families in England were forced to find a new social home because of domestic abuse last year. The bill closes a legal loophole that allowed abusers to make victims homeless. Campaigners from the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance welcomed the bill as “an important and long overdue step forward”. The government stated the bill would fix “the long-term decline in social housing”. Writing in the Guardian, Keir Starmer criticized underfunding and lack of building, pledging the biggest increase in social and affordable homes for a generation.
What’s reported
Social housing landlords can evict domestic abuse perpetrators under the bill.
Right-to-buy tenancy requirement increased from three to ten years.
Newly built social homes protected for 35 years; hard-to-replace rural homes exempt.
Bill debated in House of Lords on Monday after being announced in King Charles’s speech on 13 May.
About 15,000 families in England forced to find new social home due to domestic abuse last year (Ministry of Housing).
Bill closes loophole allowing abusers to make victims homeless by ending joint tenancy early.
At present, victims must leave home before perpetrator can be evicted; bill changes that.
Councils gain stronger right of first refusal to buy back properties.
Bill removes outdated requirements from 2016 Housing and Planning Act, including selling high-value homes, fixed-term tenancies, higher rents for higher-income tenants.
Keir Starmer wrote in the Guardian criticizing underfunding, systemic failure, lack of building; pledged increase in social housing.
Key figures
Keir Starmer (writing in the Guardian)
King Charles (announced bill in speech on 13 May)
Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (campaign organization)
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (government department)
Margaret Thatcher (whose government introduced the original three-year right-to-buy policy)
Sources: The Guardian
