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<p>Officials from my Department hold regular discussions with counterparts in the
Government Equalities Office on a range of issues, including on tackling domestic
abuse.</p><p>In November 2018 we 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%7CFrances.Walker%40communities.gov.uk%7Cf6f0d999d32544951f6708d747e702f1%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637056929815139995&sdata=Fq6lPicNQye4Kwq0ielC6gC%2BhRC1vjC92U1hTbiM87s%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>The Domestic Abuse
Bill includes provisions to ensure that, where local authorities grant a new tenancy
to a victim of domestic abuse who has or had a lifetime tenancy, the new tenancy must
be a further lifetime tenancy.</p>
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