This rule change is helping care leavers and domestic abuse survivors to get social homes

Care leavers under the age of 25 and domestic abuse survivors will be given a better chance of securing social housing from today (10 July) after months of campaigning saw the government change eligibility rules. 

The local connection requirement will no longer apply to members of both groups when they approach local authorities to apply for housing.

Previously, the local connection test meant applicants would have to have lived or worked in the area to be councils to prioritise them for social housing.

This was an unfair barrier for people who have left care or survived domestic abuse looking to make a fresh start in a new area.

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Deputy prime minister and housing secretary Angela Rayner said: “I’m immensely proud this government is delivering real change for some of our most vulnerable in society, making sure more young people and families can have a safe and secure roof over their head.   

“It’s only right we remove local connection tests for these groups and from today they will no longer face such barriers – it’s a promise we made and a promise we’ve kept.

“This builds on our Plan for Change to deliver the biggest boost to social and affordable housing in a generation, turning the tide on the crisis we’ve inherited and building hundreds of thousands of new homes to bring down housing waiting lists for good.”

Government guidance for councils across England, nearly 90% of which currently use local connection tests, sets out their obligations to prioritise vulnerable people applying for social housing.

This has now been updated to confirm young care leavers and domestic abuse survivors must be exempt from any local connection tests.

The changes that come into force today follow an identical move to support UK regular armed forces veterans last year.

Prime minister Keir Starmer announced at last year’s Labour Party conference that veterans, domestic abuse victims and care leavers would be exempt from the local connection test.

For Tia Shillito-Radicic, 24, a care experienced young person, the change will mean she is able to live closer to her support network. It is also a boost to her career in the civil service. 

“The passing of this new legislation is nothing short of life-changing for many care experienced young people and especially for me,” said Shillito-Radicic.

“It’s not just about having a roof over my head – it’s about having a foundation to build a future. It’s about independence, security, and dignity.”

The decision comes months after a cross-party group of MPs and people with care experienced delivered a petition to Downing Street in a bid to change the rules.

Care experienced student Kerrie Portman previously told the Big Issue she was “very excited” by the government’s move but urged ministers to include care leavers of all ages.

“Too often, young people in care are uprooted from their communities and placed far from home due to foster care shortages or safeguarding concerns,” added Shillito-Rancic. “When we age out of care, we’re then expected to return to the original council that placed us—sometimes hundreds of miles from where we’ve built our lives. That system leaves many of us isolated, detached from the people and places we trust most.

“This legislation changes that. And with it, comes hope. Hope that young people won’t have to start over, again and again. Hope that we can remain close to the support systems we’ve fought to create. And hope that we’ll finally be seen not just as care leavers, but as individuals with dreams, careers, and futures.

“To everyone who worked tirelessly to make this happen: thank you. You haven’t just changed a policy—you’ve helped us hold onto something many of us lose far too often: a sense of home, of belonging, and of hope.”

Care charity Become and youth homelessness charity Centrepoint have also praised the government for taking action.

Balbir Kaur Chatrik, Centrepoint’s director of policy and prevention, said: “It wasn’t right that young care leavers were subjected to local connection tests – particularly at a point in their lives where they should be able to move on and thrive.

“Removing this barrier is a huge step in protecting some of the country’s most vulnerable young people and should help in reducing youth homelessness more broadly.”

A Labour government spokesperson said the government “remains fully committed to supporting more vulnerable groups and veterans into social housing but also recognises the challenges faced by councils dealing with unprecedented pressures on housing supply as well as depleted housing stocks”.

Ministers have recently announced £39 billion to build up to 300,000 affordable and social homes over the next decade as well as making the new homes exempt from Right to Buy for 35 years.

New funding for a £12 million council housebuilding skills and capacity programme has also been announced to deal with shortages of skilled staff in the construction industry. 

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