'You can’t bid because you’re in the red': How allocation policies affect domestic abuse survivors with housing-related debt - resolving the issue

In a new collaboration, the Chartered Institute of Housing, King’s College London, and Oxford Brookes University have released a report aimed at transforming how housing providers respond to survivors of domestic abuse. 

Building on extensive research conducted from 2022 to 2024 by two of the report's authors Mel Nowicki and Katherine Brickell, including interviews with survivors and a comprehensive analysis of local authority housing policies, this report sheds light on the intersection between domestic abuse, housing insecurity, and economic hardship. 

Key Findings

• Some domestic abuse survivors face significant barriers in accessing safe housing due to housing-related debt rules
• A thorough examination of policies reveals the need for explicit exemption from housing-housing debt to support survivors adequately

The report offers insightful discussions on the context of allocation policies and their impact on households in temporary accommodation. It highlights the housing implications of economic abuse and offers concrete recommendations for the central government and housing providers to improve their offering to domestic abuse survivors.

Thanks to the relentless advocacy of housing providers, charities, and local authorities, there has been tangible progress in understanding and combatting domestic abuse. Key legislative changes, such as the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023, reflect this momentum. Our report emphasises that, while progress has been made, there is an urgent need for continued action.

Authors: Mel Nowicki, Katherine Brickell and Stephanie Morphew