In Part 2 (tenants of social landlords), after Chapter 3 insert—

“Chapter 4Tenants affected by domestic abuse

56ASocial landlords: policies about supporting tenants affected by domestic abuse

(1)

Every local authority landlord and registered social landlord must prepare and publish a policy (a “domestic abuse policy”) on how it will exercise its functions in relation to the needs of tenants who the landlord has reason to believe have experienced, are experiencing or are at risk of domestic abuse, with a view to preventing homelessness.

(2)

A domestic abuse policy must, in particular, include a description of the action that the landlord must take in relation to the needs of a tenant in the circumstances mentioned in section 14A(6A).

(3)

A landlord—

(a)

may revise its domestic abuse policy, and

(b)

if it does so, must re-publish the policy.

(4)

A landlord must, in exercising its functions, have regard to its domestic abuse policy.

(5)

A landlord must have regard to any guidance issued by the Scottish Ministers about the exercise of its functions under this section including as regards the form and content of a domestic abuse policy.

(6)

In subsection (1), “domestic abuse” means abusive behaviour within the meaning of section 2 of the Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Act 2021 (as read with sections 1 and 3 of that Act).”.