Domestic abuse and rehousing: your housing priority rights

If you are fleeing domestic abuse, you have specific rights to emergency and permanent housing through the council. You do not have to stay in a dangerous home, and you do not have to have court orders or police involvement to get help. Below, we set out your rights and the fastest routes to safer housing.

Key facts

• Government figures show 42,640 households in England were owed a relief duty after being assessed as homeless in October to December 2025. Statutory homelessness in England, GOV.UK
• A further 33,630 households were owed a prevention duty after being assessed as threatened with homelessness in the same quarter. Statutory homelessness in England, GOV.UK

Does domestic abuse give me priority for rehousing?

Yes. Under the Housing Act 1996 (as amended), a person who is homeless because of domestic abuse is likely to be in priority need, which means the council has a duty to house you. You do not need to have children to qualify, although having dependent children strengthens a priority need application.

The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 strengthened the position: a person who is homeless as a result of being a victim of domestic abuse is now automatically in priority need in England. This means the council cannot refuse emergency housing to someone who is homeless because of domestic abuse on the grounds of lacking priority need alone.

What does "homeless because of domestic abuse" mean?

You do not need to be literally sleeping on the street. The definition of homelessness includes people who:

• Are at risk of violence if they return to or remain in their current home
• Cannot reasonably be expected to remain in their home given the risk of abuse

This means you can apply as homeless even if you are currently in the property, the council can assess your situation and provide emergency accommodation if it is not safe for you to stay.

What should I do if I need to leave?

1. Contact the council's homeless team immediately: Tell them you are fleeing domestic abuse. Most councils have a 24-hour emergency line. The duty officer must assess your situation.

2. DASH risk assessment: The council may carry out or commission a DASH (Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Honour-Based Violence) risk assessment to establish the level of risk you face. This informs their response.

3. Ask about a refuge: If you need to leave immediately and the council cannot house you right away, ask about refuge accommodation. Refuges are specialist safe houses for people fleeing domestic abuse and can provide immediate safety.

4. Priority for social housing: Many councils give high priority on the housing register to people fleeing domestic abuse. If you can stay somewhere safe in the short term, making an application to the housing register is worth doing as soon as possible.

Do I need a police report or court order?

No. A council cannot require you to have a police report, criminal conviction, or court order before assessing your homeless application. Your account of the abuse, supported by evidence where available, is sufficient. Evidence can include:

• A letter from a domestic abuse support service
• Medical records showing injuries or treatment
• A letter from your doctor or health visitor
• A MARAC referral (Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference)
• Your own account of events

You do not need to have reported the abuse to the police. Many people choose not to, and councils are aware of this.

Maintaining confidentiality of your new address

If you are fleeing an abusive partner, keeping your new address confidential is critical. Tell the council and any support services from the outset that your address must not be disclosed. The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (Clare's Law) can also be used by support workers and authorities to disclose information about an abuser's history to protect you.

Disrepair in your new home

If you are rehoused in emergency accommodation, a refuge, temporary accommodation, or a new social tenancy, and that property is in disrepair, damp, mould, broken heating, or similar, your landlord still has a legal duty to maintain the property in repair. Your rights do not change because you are fleeing abuse.

If the property your council has placed you in is in disrepair, report this to the council in writing immediately.

When should I contact Support for Tenants?

Support for Tenants helps with housing disrepair claims. If your home, whether the property you left or the property you have been rehoused in, is in disrepair that your landlord has not fixed, call us on 0800 030 4669.

For domestic abuse support, contact the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 (free, 24 hours).

No upfront cost. You only pay if you win, and the fee comes out of the compensation. If you don't win, you pay nothing.

Sources

• Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (legislation.gov.uk)
• Section 189, Housing Act 1996 (priority need) (legislation.gov.uk)

Related articles

• Housing help, domestic abuse
• Homeless or being evicted, what to do
• Temporary accommodation, your rights
• Priority need, homeless, what counts?