Closed petition Enhance rights to jointly-owned property for victims of domestic violence

Closed on 17 November 2021

I am requesting for a change in law to support victims of DV in relation to a jointly owned property. I feel that under these circumstances arrangements pertaining to joint ownership and a division of net proceeds should be revised in the event of one partner violently assaulting another.

When buying a property with a partner, people are not always cautious. Too many people are trusting and become ‘trapped’ in abusive relationships. When they do speak out there are often challenges in regard to a jointly owned property and net proceeds of sale. I am requesting that the law is changed and convicted abusers negate their rights to anything more than what they contributed at the time of purchase. Specifically this would ensure abusers do not benefit from gifted deposits that were paid by the victim's family.