Council housing - Antisocial behaviour and crime

The housing department sees domestic violence as any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between adults, partners or family members, regardless of gender and sexuality.

General information and advice about domestic violence and abuse is provided on the domestic violence and abuse page. This section provides specific information about how the housing department can help.

If you are experiencing domestic violence and want help to improve the safety of your home or find different accommodation, please contact the Homelessness Prevention Service for further advice. If you are a council tenant please also contact your managing agent.

Staying put

If you live in Wandsworth are being threatened or hurt by someone who does not live with you we can help under the 'Staying Put, Staying Safe' scheme by improving the security of your home. For further information, please contact the Homelessness Prevention Service on 020 8871 6840.

If you live in Wandsworth and you are being threatened or hurt by someone who lives with you, please read the rest of this section.

If you own a property or have a tenancy (either in your own name or jointly with another person), you have a right to live in the property. If you do not own a property or have a tenancy but live with your spouse or civil partner who does, you are legally entitled to live in the home and your spouse / civil partner cannot legally evict you except by obtaining a court order.

If you are currently not living in your home, you can apply for a court order to gain entry and live there.

Staying Safe once you have excluded the abuser from your home

If you seek legal advice to have the abuser evicted from your home, Wandsworth Council can help you under the 'Staying Put, Staying Safe' scheme by improving the security of your home. For further information, please contact the Homelessness Prevention Service on 020 8871 6840.

Moving

If you are a housing association tenant, you may want to contact your housing association to find out if you can get a transfer.

If you are a Wandsworth council tenant or are fleeing violence from a Wandsworth Council tenant, who you have been living with, please contact your managing agent, who may be able to help in the following ways:

• If you are being hurt or threatened by someone who does not live with you or someone who lives with you but is not a joint tenant you may be eligible for an urgent move to another property.
• If you have a joint tenancy with the person who is hurting or threatening you, the council may agree to give you a tenancy of another property if you serve a Notice to Quit and end your joint tenancy. The council would then evict the person who was hurting or threatening you.

Emergency accommodation

If you need to leave your home because someone is hurting or threatening you and you need somewhere to stay while you get advice and assistance, consider:

• Staying temporarily with relatives or friends
• Finding a Women's Refuge by contacting the National Domestic Violence Helpline (24 hour) on 0808 2000 247
• Making a homelessness application. To make a Homelessness application to Wandsworth Council, please contact the Homelessness Prevention Service on 020 8871 6840 (Monday to Friday 8:30am-5:30pm) or emergency Social Services on 020 8871 6000 (out of hours)