Open petition: Statutory right for domestic abuse victims to separate from joint mortgages

Created by Claire-Louise Milne
Closes on 25 March 2027

Create a statutory right for domestic abuse victims to unilaterally separate from joint mortgages, with specific protections against arrears, damaged credit and their abuser refusing to pay, sell or cooperate; ensuring a joint mortgage cannot be used as a tool of post-separation economic abuse.

Despite physically escaping abuse, the mortgage system can leave victims financially tied and exposed to the consequences of their abusers’ actions. We want a statutory right where domestic abuse victims can unilaterally end their personal liability under a joint mortgage without their abuser’s consent.

I feel the experiences of domestic abuse victims show a wider gap in protection: survivors should not remain vulnerable to post-separation economic abuse through a joint mortgage. Leaving an abuser should mean freedom including financial freedom.

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