Domestic Abuse Policy

Regardless of tenure, if a victim or survivor of domestic abuse feels that they are unsafe in their home due to domestic abuse, our Housing Solutions team can help discuss their options and carry out a homelessness assessment.

People can self-refer or can be referred by agencies who may already be working with them.

Housing Solutions will undertake a homeless assessment and will advise if a homeless duty is owed to them. A personal housing plan will be developed.

Gateshead Council has a duty to work with clients to effectively prevent homelessness in line with the Homeless Reduction Act (2017). The Housing Solutions service may provide support to access safe interim accommodation where needed.

For victims and survivors of domestic abuse, where a duty is accepted, no local connection is needed; victims and survivors can approach any council for help in this situation, and don't need a local connection to the area they make their homelessness application in.

Duty to refer

Certain public bodies are required to notify a housing authority of service users they consider may be homeless or threatened with homelessness within 56 days. Before making a referral, the referrer must:

• have consent from their service user to make the referral and for their contact details to be supplied so the housing authority can contact them
• allow the service user to identify the housing authority in England that they would like to be referred to

The public authorities that are subject to the Duty to Refer are specified in The Homelessness (Review Procedure etc.) Regulations 2018. They are:

• prisons
• youth offending institutions
• secure training centres
• secure colleges
• youth offending teams
• probation services (including community rehabilitation companies)
• Jobcentre Plus
• social service authorities
• emergency departments
• urgent treatment centres
• hospitals in their function of providing inpatient care
• The Secretary of State for Defence is also subject to the duty to refer for members of the regular forces (Royal Navy, Royal Marines, regular army and Royal Air Force)

List correct at time of publication. For an up-to-date list, please check at The Homelessness (Review Procedure etc.) Regulations 2018

Housing Solutions can be contacted on the following details:

Email - [email protected]
Telephone - 0191 433 3174 (office hours)
24-hour freephone number - 0800 953 7112

Shelter England - Local authority homelessness duties

Council tenants

If you are a council tenant and you are experiencing domestic abuse, we will support you, give advice on your options and make a referral to our Housing Solutions service for a homeless assessment if required. The Neighbourhood Relations team can be contacted on the following details:

Email - [email protected]
Telephone - 0191 433 3174

If a council tenant is rehoused into another council tenancy as a result of fleeing domestic abuse, they will keep the security of their tenancy (if they were a secure tenant in their previous home).