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If you want or need to leave home, find out about the housing support available.

Stay with family and friends

This may be a safe option and give you some support. It is possible that your abuser will guess where you are and this may only be a short-term solution. If you live in a council home, please contact your housing officer for support as soon as possible, especially if you're unable to stay in your home.

Go to a women’s refuge

You can get a space in a refuge by calling the 24-hour National Domestic Violence Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247. Refuges are safe houses for women and children who are escaping domestic violence.

Help will be available on matters such as:

• welfare rights
• legal issues
• accommodation options

Refuge addresses are confidential to ensure the safety of those who live there. Refuges accept all women, with or without children. Some do not take boys over 12.

Refuge website

Emergency accommodation from a council

All councils have a legal duty to give advice and help to homeless people. If you’re too frightened to stay in Barking and Dagenham you can contact another council.

As you’ve left your home due to violence, you will not be intentionally homeless.  You can obtain general housing advice by calling us on 020 8724 8323, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.  Or by email housingadviceservice@lbbd.gov.uk. Alternatively, if you need to get in contact with us outside of regular hours, please contact 020 8215 3000. 

If you are still in danger you can apply to transfer to another home in Barking and Dagenham or another borough. You will be given a high priority as long as you’re a council tenant and you’re:

• in temporary accommodation (including a refuge)
• staying with friends
• staying in your home

If you leave your home due to domestic violence, we would like to remove your abuser from the property. To do this we need your agreement as you will be required to attend court to give evidence of the violence you have suffered.  Under the Family Law Act 1996 you can apply to the courts to have your abuser removed from your present home. This is called an Occupation Order.

Whether or not you decide to do this will depend on how safe you feel you may be in your home. If you’re getting divorced, jointly-owned property will be sorted out as part of the divorce settlement. This may take a long time so you may wish to make alternative arrangements in the meantime.

Renting privately

If you decide to find somewhere to rent privately, you may be able to get Housing Benefit.

Find out more about your options on our Housing Options Finder tool.

Making your home safe

If you wish to remain in your home but are fearful because of security and safety issues, you can contact The Barking and Dagenham Independent Domestic and Sexual Abuse Service to install the free sanctuary scheme. This service is for anyone living in Barking and Dagenham who is as risk of domestic abuse. You can call the service Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm on 0300 456 0174 or email bdadvocacy@refuge.org.uk.