Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the statutory guidance accompanying the Domestic Abuse Bill will make clear that housing officers should accept evidence from specialist services as proof of homelessness when they assess applications from women made homeless by domestic abuse.

It is critical that victims of domestic abuse get support, especially when they are in housing need, and that local authority housing officers are aware of the risks victims of domestic abuse face and know how to support them appropriately.

The published draft statutory Homelessness Code of Guidance, which will accompany the Domestic Abuse Bill, makes clear that with consent from the applicant, housing authorities can seek evidence from friends and relatives of the applicant, social services, health professionals, representatives from Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences, a domestic abuse support service or the police, as appropriate.

This is not an exhaustive list and housing officers should exercise their judgement in determining how to obtain the necessary supporting evidence in each case.  The guidance is also clear that local authorities should ensure their enquiries do not provoke further violence or abuse, and that they should not approach the alleged perpetrator.