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<p>The Secretary of State meets regularly with all his ministerial colleagues.</p><p>We
have taken steps to improve access to social housing for victims of domestic abuse.</p><p>Statutory
guidance issued in 2012 encourages local authorities to give additional preference
(high priority) to people who require urgent rehousing as a result of domestic abuse,
while guidance issued in 2013 advises authorities to make appropriate exceptions to
any local connection test for people moving into an area to escape violence.</p><p>In
November 2018 the government issued new statutory guidance for local authorities to
improve access to social housing by victims of domestic abuse who are in a refuge
or other form of safe temporary accommodation: <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.publishing.service.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fuploads%2Fsystem%2Fuploads%2Fattachment_data%2Ffile%2F753667%2FImproving_access_to_social_housing_for_victims_of_domestic_abuse.pdf&data=02%7C01%7CRobert.Gotay%40communities.gov.uk%7C1c25b12b1ad0405f891408d86ea3cfb4%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637380997122381624&sdata=V2f5G%2FULBTPUDrioUFBFe3LKtAolhaYHaf5c1awcWfs%3D&reserved=0"
target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/753667/Improving_access_to_social_housing_for_victims_of_domestic_abuse.pdf
</a></p><p>The guidance makes clear that local authorities are expected not to apply
residency tests for those victims who have fled to another district, sets out how
they can give appropriate priority to victims, and encourages them to use their existing
powers to support victims to remain safely in their homes if they choose to do so.</p><p>Through
the Domestic Abuse Bill we are protecting the security of tenure of social tenants
with a lifetime tenancy who have to flee their home to escape domestic abuse.</p>
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