New measures aimed at preventing domestic abuse survivors from becoming homeless are to be outlined on Thursday.
Housing minister Paul McLennan will tell the Scottish Parliament’s Social Justice and Social Security committee that legislation contained in the Housing Bill 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.
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.”
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