CIH Scotland responds to passing of Domestic Abuse Scotland Bill

Legislation has been passed giving more powers to police, courts and social landlords to protect people at risk of domestic abuse.

The Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Bill  will enable police and courts to ban suspected abusers from re-entering the home for a period of up to three months with a domestic abuse order. The legislation will also allow social landlords to transfer the tenancy of a perpetrator of domestic abuse to the victim.

CIH believes such a flexibility will allow social landlords and police to swiftly remove an abuser and in turn keep them out of the victim’s home until the tenancy has been transferred/ended.

Callum Chomczuk National Director of CIH Scotland said:

“We very much welcome the passing  of the Bill which will improve the housing rights of victim-survivors.

“We know domestic abuse is the principal cause of homelessness for women but the law did not previously give enough protection to victim- survivors to safeguard their housing rights. This legislation will now give victims of domestic abuse housing rights and options that were previously unavailable - including the option of staying in their home. A key ask from our domestic abuse campaign, Make a Stand.

“However, we also recognise that legislation alone cannot improve housing outcomes for victims of domestic abuse and believe the development of the accompanying guidance, including provisions on how to rehouse perpetrators, will be crucial in supporting social landlords improve housing and homeless services. We look forward to working with the Government to develop this guidance.”