The Secure Tenancies (Victims of Domestic Abuse) Bill 2017-19 will ensure that when provisions in the Housing and Planning Act 2016 are brought into force requiring local authorities in England to offer only fixed-term tenancies, this will not apply to certain victims of domestic abuse. The Bill addresses a concern raised during the 2016 Act’s progress through Parliament that victims of domestic abuse would be less likely to leave their homes if doing so would result in an offer of a tenancy with reduced security of tenure.
During the debate on Second Reading, Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth said:
This short, targeted Bill is an important part of the Government’s wider aim of supporting victims of domestic abuse to leave their abusive situation, and ensuring that they and their families are provided with the stability and security they need and deserve.
The Bill was introduced in the House of Lords on 19 December 2017. The debate on Second Reading took place on 24 January 2018. The Bill was considered and amended in Committee on 6 March 2018. Third Reading took place on 13 March.
The Bill’s debate on Second Reading in the Commons took place on 19 March 2018. The Bill was then considered by Public Bill Committee in two sittings on 27 March 2018. No amendments to the Bill were made in Public Bill Committee. The Bill’s Report and Third Reading Stages are scheduled to take place on 8 May 2018. All debates on the Bill can be accessed on Parliament’s Bill pages.
The Bill has cross-party support and has been welcomed by Women’s Aid and other organisations that support victims of domestic violence.
This page and the briefing paper is being updated as the Bill progresses through the House of Commons.
Further information:
- Lords Library briefing paper on the Bill as originally introduced, 5 January 2018
- Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Note of impacts, January 2018
- Ministry of Housing, Commuities and Local Government: delegated powers memorandum
- Explanatory notes to the Bill as amended in the House of Lords
- The Bill as amended on Report in the House of Lords
- Commons Library briefing paper: Social housing: the end of 'lifetime' tenancies in England?
Help for Members of Parliament and their staff
In addition to writing and updating papers as bills progress through Parliament, the House of Commons Library can assist Members and their staff with individual enquiries, particularly on the policy background to a bill.
The Public Bill Office (PBO) supports public bill committees. The staff working in the PBO can advise Members of Parliament on tabling amendments to bills and on the drafting of Private Members’ Bills.