BY TOBY PORTER
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An MP is campaigning to ensure victims are not left homeless when they are forced to flee due to violence and threats.

The Georgia law would be named after a voter for Dulwich and West Norwood MP Helen Hayes, who took her campaign to the House of Commons last week.

Georgia was temporarily housed after her teenage son was threatened by gang members at her home.

Police told her Georgia that she needed to relocate immediately for the safety of her family.

But their housing association had no suitable apartments – and sent them to housing administrations, which provided temporary accommodation.

As a result, the housing association began evictions—rendering them homeless and putting them on a housing waiting list.

Georgia said: “Guys came into the house and banged on my door. My son – you know children who don’t tell you anything. But when the police came, I really had to move.”

The housing association found Georgia a new home after Ms Hayes intervened – but she found there was no legal duty for social landlords to prioritize such cases.

Georgia’s law would ensure that the rights of social housing tenants are protected – and the same rental conditions are maintained – if they have to move because of a security threat.

It would also create a new obligation for social landlords to cooperate if the tenant has to move out.

The bill has the support of Shelter, the National Housing Federation and lawmakers across party lines.

Ms Hayes told the House on February 1: “No one should be made homeless because they or a member of their household are
threatened with severe violence, but that is what happens to far too many families who are forced to make emergency moves because a member of their household is in danger.”

She said outside the House of Commons: “Having to go through an emergency because someone in your family is experiencing serious violence is a frightening and destabilizing experience that affects the whole family.

“My bill seeks to minimize the trauma and instability that renters face in these circumstances, by legally recognizing that no one should be made homeless by threats of violence, legally protecting existing rental rights, and ensuring that social landlords work with them each other to find a new permanent home as soon as possible.

“Dealing with serious violence requires multiple solutions. Ensuring that social landlords have an obligation to limit the harm caused by a risk of violence is important reform to protect our communities and I hope the government will support the Georgian law.”

Kate Henderson, chief executive of the National Housing Federation, said: “We support the principle that anyone who is forced to move home because of a threat to their security has the right to be rehoused on the same terms.

“To help find suitable permanent housing for vulnerable people, we need to address the social housing shortage.

“It is therefore important that this bill is supported by an increased supply of housing for social rent.”

Helen Hayes’ bill – The Social Housing (Emergency Protection of Tenancy Rights) Bill – was introduced under the “10-minute rule,” which allows a backbench MP to advocate a new law in a speech of up to 10 minutes .”

Pictured: MP Helen Hayes; Georgia