New housing rules are good news for abuse survivors, and the insolvency register should be next

Survivors of domestic abuse who live in council or housing association homes will be able to stay put, while their abuser is made to leave.

The government announced the change this week. It’s part of a new law going through Parliament called the Social Housing Bill.

What’s changing?

Right now, many survivors have to leave their home to get away from their abuser. That can mean losing their friends, their children’s school and the people who support them.

The new rules mean councils and housing associations can ask a court to make the abuser leave instead. The survivor gets to keep the home.

And if a survivor already has a protection order, they won’t have to go back to court and prove their abuse all over again. A protection order is a court order that stops an abuser contacting or going near someone.

The changes will only apply to council and housing association homes in England. They’re not law yet, because Parliament still has to vote on them.

Why does this matter if you’ve been through financial abuse?

Financial abuse is when someone takes control of your money. They might stop you working, take your wages or run up debts in your name. It’s a form of domestic abuse, and the law recognises it.

The home is often a big part of it. An abuser might stop paying their share of the rent, or threaten to make you homeless if you leave.

If you rent a home together, you’re both responsible for paying all the rent. So if your abuser stops paying, you could be left with rent arrears.

Leaving can make money problems worse. Many survivors start again with nothing and have to borrow money for things like a deposit, furniture and food. Being able to stay in your home gives you a safe place to get back on your feet, and can stop your debts from growing.

What has this got to do with our PARV campaign?

Some people who can’t pay their debts use a formal debt solution, such as a debt relief order, to get their debts written off. But when they do, their name and address can go on a public list called the Individual Insolvency Register. Anyone can look at it, including an abuser.

To keep their address off the list, survivors have to apply for something called a PARV order. PARV stands for Persons At Risk of Violence. To get one, they may have to fill in legal forms, write down what their abuser did to them, give evidence and go to court. It can take up to 20 weeks.

Last year, the government scrapped the £318 fee for a PARV order after we campaigned for it. But survivors still have to go through the same long process, and many have to relive their abuse just to stay safe.

So now we’re asking the government to make the register private, so survivors are protected without having to apply. Four MPs and 12 organisations are backing us, including Refuge, the Salvation Army, Nationwide, Christians Against Poverty and Lowell.

The government now agrees that survivors shouldn’t have to prove their abuse again to keep their home. We think the same should apply to the insolvency register. And the government can change the rules without needing a whole new law.

You can find out more in our policy pack.

Where can you get help?

If you’ve got debts after leaving an abusive relationship, or your abuser ran up debts in your name, speak to us. We’ll talk you through your options, including whether you need a PARV order, and help you apply for one if you do.

You can also use our benefits calculator to check you’re getting all the money you’re entitled to.

If you’re in danger or need support with domestic abuse, call the free National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge, on 0808 2000 247. It’s open 24 hours a day. In an emergency, always call 999.