A new report claims that many social landlords have inadequate policies to support survivors of domestic abuse.

The report, published this week by Scottish Women’s Aid and the Chartered Institute of Housing, found that social housing landlords north of the border are “overwhelmingly failing to support those experiencing domestic abuse, prevent victim-survivor homelessness or hold perpetrators to account.”

The report claims that many social landlords placed considerable emphasis on victims reporting their experiences – an attitude which puts women and children at risk as the time of reporting or immediately after reporting is described as being “incredibly dangerous.”

Policies also failed to use the Scottish Government definition of domestic abuse and did not recognise domestic abuse as gender-based violence. Furthermore, landlords were not holding perpetrators of domestic abuse to account, with only six mentioning actions that should be taken against tenants who are perpetrators of abuse.

The report calls for an existing 2019 good practice guidance for social landlords to be placed on a statutory footing to ensure that social landlords prioritise domestic abuse within an equality and human rights-based framework, and wants the creation of a national training resource on domestic abuse and housing to build understanding of the issue. 

The report also says the Scottish Housing Regulator should issue guidance to social landlords which sets out requirements to demonstrate how they have improved housing outcomes for those suffering abuse.

Jo Ozga, housing policy worker at Scottish Women’s Aid, says: “Domestic abuse remains the leading cause of women’s homelessness in Scotland. We are disappointed that, despite making pledges and receiving clear best practice guidance on how to build a suitable domestic abuse policy, social landlords are still failing to act to protect women and children.

“With the cost of living crisis disproportionately impacting women, and further constraining the already very limited choices that those experiencing domestic abuse have, it is more important than ever that social landlords grasp the gendered nature of domestic abuse. 

“Policies alone won’t do it, but with social landlords due to receive new powers later this year as part of the enactment of the Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Act, and a new Housing Bill on the horizon, the time is right for the Scottish Government, local authorities and social landlords to put their promises into action to improve the housing outcomes for women and children experiencing domestic abuse.”