Scottish Housing Minister will today (Thursday)
outline measures in the Housing Bill aimed at preventing domestic
abuse survivors from becoming homeless.
He will tell the Scottish Parliament's Social Justice and Social
Security committee that the legislation, if passed, would require
all social landlords to develop, implement and maintain a policy
for supporting tenants experiencing domestic abuse.
Where a tenant is in rent arrears as a result of domestic abuse,
existing protection against eviction would also be strengthened
to require social landlords to support the tenant in accordance
with the landlord's domestic abuse policy.
Mr McLennan said:
“Scotland already has the strongest homelessness rights of
anywhere in the UK, however, domestic abuse is a leading cause of
homelessness for women, and we want to make sure no one
experiences the trauma of losing their home due to abuse.
“Financial abuse is a significant element of coercive control in
domestic abuse situations. Research suggests 89% of women
experience financial abuse as part of domestic abuse.
“Measures in the Housing Bill aim to ensure people
experiencing domestic abuse living in social housing can be
supported to stay in their home or be rehoused if they wish.
Also, that rent arrears caused by domestic abuse do not prevent
victims from accessing social housing in the future.”
Background
The Housing (Scotland)
Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 26
March and is currently going through Stage 1 scrutiny. If passed,
it will introduce a range of homelessness prevention measures
including ‘Ask and Act' duties on relevant bodies and domestic
abuse related provisions.
Policy Memorandum accessible
(parliament.scot)
