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🛡 Domestic Abuse & Safeguarding Guide
Domestic Abuse: Your Rights, Protections and Support in 2026
Experiencing domestic abuse or helping someone who is? This guide explains the legal protections available, housing rights for survivors, and your rights at work — including what your employer must and can do to support you.
📅 Last reviewed: July 2026📚 Sources: GOV.UK, Refuge, SafeLives, Domestic Abuse Act 2021🏴 England & Wales (Scotland/NI vary)
Domestic Abuse Act 2021 created a statutory definition of domestic abuse covering physical, emotional, coercive control, economic, and other abusive behaviour between people who are, or have been, in an intimate relationship or are family members.
Coercive control is a criminal offence in England and Wales — you do not need physical violence to have a criminal case.
Domestic Violence Protection Notices (DVPNs) can be issued by police immediately after an incident. A magistrates' court must hear the police application for a Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVPO) within 48 hours, and a DVPO can keep the abuser away from your home and stop contact for 14 to 28 days.
Non-Molestation Orders (from a family court) can prohibit contact, harassment or molestation — breaching one is a criminal offence.
Occupation Orders can require an abuser to leave the family home and can be obtained quickly in urgent cases.
Survivors of domestic abuse have priority need for social housing in most cases — local authorities cannot simply refuse to house you.
Legal protections available
A range of legal protections are available to survivors of domestic abuse:
Domestic Violence Protection Notice (DVPN): Police can issue this immediately after an incident. It stops the abuser molesting you and can require them to leave your home until a magistrates' court hears the police application for a DVPO, within 48 hours.
Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVPO): A magistrates' court can make this order for between 14 and 28 days.
Non-Molestation Order: A family court order prohibiting the abuser from molesting, harassing or contacting you. Breaching it is a criminal offence carrying up to 5 years imprisonment.
Occupation Order: Regulates who can live in the family home — can exclude an abuser even if they own or rent the property.
Stalking Protection Order: Available via the police for ongoing stalking behaviour.
Housing rights for survivors
If you have left (or need to leave) your home because of domestic abuse, you have strong housing rights:
Local authorities must carry out a housing needs assessment
Survivors of domestic abuse are usually accepted as having a priority need for social housing
If you have dependent children, you will almost certainly be in priority need
You should not be placed in accommodation with your abuser
Emergency refuge spaces are available across England — contact the National Domestic Abuse Helpline for referrals
If you have a joint tenancy, legal advice can help you to transfer it into your sole name or get the abuser removed
Rights at work
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, your employer has obligations and you have rights:
Domestic abuse may constitute a disability under the Equality Act 2010 if it causes long-term mental or physical impairment — your employer must make reasonable adjustments
Some employers have domestic abuse workplace policies offering paid leave, relocation support or confidential referrals — check your staff handbook
You can request flexible working from day one — to allow for court appointments, counselling, or relocation
Your employer must keep your address and personal details confidential from an abusive partner who may contact them
While there is currently no standalone legal right to paid domestic abuse leave in England, Wales and Scotland, many employers offer this voluntarily and there is growing pressure for it to become law.
Coercive control
Coercive and controlling behaviour is a criminal offence in England and Wales under the Serious Crime Act 2015. It covers a pattern of behaviour that causes you to feel fear, alarm or distress, or that has a serious effect on your day-to-day activities.
Examples include: controlling your finances, isolating you from family and friends, monitoring your movements or communications, threatening you or your children, humiliating you in public or private, and controlling what you wear or eat.
You do not need to have experienced physical violence to report coercive control to the police.
1
Contact the National Domestic Abuse Helpline if you are in danger
Free, 24/7: 0808 2000 247. They can provide advice, safety planning and refuge referrals.
2
Speak to the police if you have been assaulted or threatened
You can call 999 in an emergency or 101 for non-emergency advice. The police can issue a DVPN immediately.
3
Apply for a Non-Molestation or Occupation Order
Contact a family law solicitor or your local court. Legal aid may be available for domestic abuse victims in family law matters: see our legal aid guide to see if you qualify.
4
Tell your housing authority if you need to leave your home
Contact your local council's housing team. Explain you are a survivor of domestic abuse — this gives you priority in housing allocation.
5
Tell your employer if it is safe to do so
Many employers have domestic abuse policies and can help with paid leave, security measures or counselling referrals. Your employer must keep your details confidential.
6
Get legal advice early
Legal aid is available for domestic abuse survivors in family law cases. Find a solicitor via the Law Society's Find a Solicitor tool.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as domestic abuse?
Under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, domestic abuse includes physical violence, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, coercive or controlling behaviour, economic abuse and psychological abuse between people who are, or have been, in an intimate relationship, or between family members.
Can I get legal aid?
Legal aid may be available for domestic abuse survivors in family law proceedings, such as applications for non-molestation or occupation orders. Whether you qualify depends on your case: use the Check if you can get legal aid service on GOV.UK.
What if I share a tenancy with the abuser?
A solicitor can advise on transferring the tenancy to your sole name, applying for an Occupation Order to remove the abuser, or moving into a refuge while a longer-term solution is found.
Will my employer have to tell my abuser where I work?
No. Your employer has a duty of confidentiality. You should ask your HR team to flag your file so that no information is given out about you, including your address, without your consent.
What is a MARAC?
A Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference is a meeting of local agencies (police, housing, social care, health) that shares information and coordinates a safety plan for high-risk domestic abuse cases. Referrals are made by professionals, often after a DASH risk assessment.
Can I take time off work for court hearings?
There is currently no statutory right to paid domestic abuse leave in England, Wales and Scotland. However, you can request annual leave or unpaid leave. Many employers also have compassionate or special leave policies that cover this.
What if I am afraid to involve the police?
You do not have to involve the police to access support. You can contact the National Domestic Abuse Helpline (0808 2000 247), a refuge, or a local IDVA (Independent Domestic Violence Adviser) service confidentially.
⚠ Important disclaimer: This guide covers domestic abuse law in England and Wales as at July 2026. Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate legislation in some areas. General legal information only — not legal advice. Verify with ACAS, GOV.UK or Citizens Advice before acting. ukworkrights.co.uk — Not a law firm.
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