Social housing waiting time protections introduced for domestic abuse survivors
New national protocol allows victims and survivors transferring between local authorities to retain their place on social housing waiting lists
2 July 2026 | đŸ“§Â editor@ipropertyradio.com
Victims and survivors of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence who need to relocate to another part of Ireland will now be able to retain the time they have already spent on a social housing waiting list when applying to a different local authority under a new national protocol introduced by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne TD.
The measure, announced by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on 1 July, is intended to remove one of the practical barriers faced by people fleeing abuse by ensuring they are not disadvantaged in accessing long-term social housing simply because they must move to another county for their safety.
Previously, households moving between local authority areas could lose the benefit of the waiting time already accumulated on a social housing list, potentially delaying access to permanent housing. Under the new arrangements, applicants with an active social housing support application will be able to transfer their original qualification date when applying to another local authority, provided they continue to meet the relevant eligibility and housing need criteria.
The protocol forms part of the Government’s Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025–2030 housing strategy and was developed following consultation with local authorities and Cuan, the State agency responsible for tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.
Announcing the changes, Minister Browne said supporting households experiencing homelessness, including those escaping domestic abuse, remains a key priority.
He said there should never be barriers preventing victims and survivors from accessing the security and stability that appropriate social housing can provide. The new protocol, he said, allows individuals and families who need to relocate elsewhere in the country to do so without being penalised for circumstances beyond their control.
The protocol introduces several operational changes for local authorities. Applicants with an existing social housing support application can retain their original qualification date when transferring to another housing authority. To qualify, applicants must satisfy the receiving authority’s social housing eligibility requirements and provide evidence that they are victims or survivors of domestic, sexual or gender-based violence.
The guidance also allows receiving local authorities to waive local connection requirements on a discretionary basis where appropriate. Once a transfer has been completed, the original housing application will be closed to prevent duplicate applications across multiple authorities.
In addition, every local authority is required to ensure that housing staff are familiar with the protocol so that eligible applicants can access the new arrangements consistently across the country.
The Department said the protocol takes effect immediately and is being issued to all local authorities through a formal circular. Implementation will be supported by information webinars for housing staff and Cuan-funded domestic violence service providers.
To assess the effectiveness of the initiative, the Department will collect quarterly data from local authorities to monitor uptake and evaluate how the protocol is operating as it becomes embedded within social housing allocation processes.
The reform represents a targeted change to Ireland’s social housing allocation system by recognising that victims and survivors of domestic abuse may need to leave their communities quickly for safety reasons, while ensuring that this decision does not result in a loss of progress towards securing permanent social housing.
