Domestic abuse victims could soon be able to choose where they rebuild their lives under new plans, the Government has announced.

Currently, victims of abuse need a local connection to an area before they can apply for emergency social housing.

This can often mean victims are forced to live in the same communities as their abuser and are denied a fresh start in a new town.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has launched a consultation launched today which will consider removing the Local Connection Tests.

Nicole Jacobs, Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales said: “For victims and survivors of domestic abuse, home is often the most dangerous place.

“It is vital that victims and survivors can access safe housing regardless of their tenure type. That means staying safely in their own home if they want to, as well as being able to access housing in a new area if they are no longer safe where they live.”

The DLHC also proposes an extra £125million to councils across England to ensure refuges can provide victims with vital support services.

Rough Sleeping and Housing Minister Eddie Hughes MP said: “This funding will give victims of domestic abuse and their children across the country the practical and emotional support to recover and rebuild their lives from this terrible crime.

“The consultations we are launching today build on this work and will help us give victims more options to move forward with their lives in the way that is right for them.”

A second consultation will consider whether and how to change current rules that make it difficult for victims to remove their perpetrators from joint tenancies, which can mean victims either feel forced to stay in their home or are at risk of being made homeless by their abuser.

Currently, victims of abuse need a local connection to an area before they can apply for emergency social housing

The government will call on people with experience of domestic abuse and those working in the sector to share their views.

It follows official figures that revealed domestic abuse was the second most common reason Brits found themselves homeless.

Homelessness due to domestic abuse has risen by 34.3% from July to September 2019. And it’s up 13.7% from autumn 2020 to the same period in 2021.

Homelessness legislation requires local authorities to take “reasonable steps” to try to prevent or relieve a household’s homelessness by helping them to secure accommodation for at least six months.

These duties usually last 56 days each.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/housing-local-connection-tests-could-26229498