Lewisham Council's Mayor and Cabinet has approved a new Domestic Abuse Policy for the Housing Directorate, designed to offer enhanced and more detailed support for residents experiencing domestic abuse.
The policy, which supersedes a previous high-level statement, was developed with significant input from survivors, residents, housing teams, and partner organisations. Councillor Natalie Thomas, Cabinet Member for Safer Homes, Homelessness and Housing Services, explained that the new policy provides a clearer and more comprehensive granular explanation of the support available through our housing services.
Crucially, it extends coverage beyond council tenants to include those in temporary accommodation and anyone approaching the council for housing or homelessness assistance.
Specific Support Detailed in the New Policy
The policy outlines a range of specific support mechanisms tailored to different situations:
- For Lewisham Council Housing tenants: Support includes options to remain safely in their home or move to a safe alternative. The council will partner with MARAC and relevant agencies to identify and support high-risk victims. Tenants can expect an interview with a Domestic Abuse Support Officer, including a risk assessment, within one working day of reporting. Additional security measures for the home, such as enhanced locks and fireproof letterboxes, will be provided. Assistance with moving home, either temporarily or permanently, will be offered in line with relevant policies. Residents will also receive advice and assistance to make a homelessness application and referrals to specialist agencies, including the National Centre for Domestic Violence for legal orders, MARAC, counselling, mental health support, LGBTQ+ services, and the council's Welfare Benefits team. Where perpetrators are council tenants, tenancy enforcement action will be considered.
- For Homelessness Prevention and Relief: The policy ensures a rapid, accessible, and supportive response for anyone experiencing or at risk of homelessness due to domestic abuse. Emergency appointments will be available on the same or next day, without requiring corroborating evidence at the initial point of contact. A survivor-led full assessment will be conducted to understand the reasons for homelessness, perform a DASH risk assessment, and identify other involved agencies. Referrals to the Sanctuary scheme, provided by Athena, will be made if individuals can safely remain in their home. Support will be provided to identify and access suitable alternative accommodation, considering individual circumstances and needs, which may include out-of-borough placements. The policy also supports residents through the 'relief' stage under the Homelessness Reduction Act.
- For Residents in Temporary Accommodation: The policy guarantees that all temporary accommodation placements are safe and suitable, with a focus on responding to identified risks. Close collaboration with internal and external teams, such as Athena and Homelessness Prevention, will inform accommodation choices, with a commitment to sourcing accommodation outside of risk areas, potentially out of borough. Placements will be reviewed every six months for suitability, taking into account household needs, risk factors, health and safety, medical requirements, and domestic abuse concerns. Rehousing within 24 hours will be prioritised if domestic abuse concerns are raised, potentially involving emergency accommodation.
- Commissioned Domestic Abuse Services (Athena, run by Refuge): These services offer refuge accommodation for safe stays, Independent Gender-based Violence advocates (IGVAs) for high-risk individuals, outreach support for confidential assistance, the Sanctuary scheme for home safety measures, drop-in services at confidential locations, and specialist group programmes for women focusing on the dynamics of domestic abuse.
Councillor Thomas emphasised that no policy alone is going to remove the harm caused by domestic abuse, but it can ensure residents are listened to, treated sensitively, and given a clear route to support.
The policy aims to codify and clarify exactly what residents can expect from housing services, ensuring consistent treatment across the board and providing clear guidance for officers.
Councillor Tam, Cabinet Member for Communities, Sanctuary and Healing, had raised questions about how the policy would expedite and enhance the safety and consistency of support. Councillor Thomas's response highlighted that the policy's clarity for both residents and officers is key to achieving this. Furthermore, the policy will be published on the council's website, empowering residents with knowledge of their entitlements.
Councillor Smith welcomed the policy as a really good step,
acknowledging the potential for re-traumatisation when individuals experiencing trauma access services without clear guidelines or consistent language. The council is also pursuing Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA) accreditation as part of this initiative, which implies a structured approach to improving effectiveness.
Measuring Effectiveness and Feedback
While the policy aims to ensure residents are listened to, treated sensitively, and given a clear route to support, measuring its effectiveness in providing quicker, more consistent, and safer support is ongoing. The policy's codification of expectations for housing services and officers is intended to drive consistency. The council's pursuit of DAHA accreditation also suggests a commitment to structured improvement and effectiveness measurement.
Mechanisms for gathering feedback from residents were integral to the policy's development. A survey and presentations to the Tenant Advisory Board (TAB) and Service and Performance Panel (SPP) informed the policy. The survey indicated that 83% of respondents found the policy easy to understand, with feedback leading to clearer language and explanations of abbreviations. The publication of the policy on the council's website will further inform residents of their entitlements.
Collaboration with Partners
The policy explicitly sets out how the council will work with specialist services and other partners. This collaborative approach was central to its development, with input sought from survivors, residents, housing teams, and partner organisations. The policy details working relationships with entities such as MARAC, the Metropolitan Police, Lewisham Council's Housing Allocations Service, Social Care, Mental Health Services, various Support Agencies, and the Lewisham Adults Safeguarding Board. Councillor Smith's endorsement also highlighted the policy's potential to improve casework through clear guidelines and consistent working practices.
The policy replaces a previous very relatively high-level statement
with a more detailed and comprehensive approach, ensuring that support is clearly defined and accessible to a wider range of residents. The council is working towards Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA) accreditation as part of this initiative.
For further details, the Public reports pack for the Mayor and Cabinet meeting on 9th September 2026 can be accessed here: Public reports pack.
