Get more information on what to do if you are in immediate danger.
Our commissioned Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) service can offer support on how to keep safe if you or someone you know is experiencing violence and abuse. For more information, visit our VAWG webpages.
You can also access details of local, regional and national services specialising in VAWG, on the Women’s Aid Directory.
Get help
If you are at risk of violence and concerned that you or your children may be at risk of serious harm, always call the police on 999. Their priority is to protect you.
You can also contact the police on their non-emergency number, 101.
If you are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired, you can contact the police in emergencies by calling 18000.
If you need to talk confidentially to someone about your situation, and to find out what your options are, contact the National Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
If you are a male experiencing domestic abuse, contact the Men's Advice Line on 0808 801 0327.
If you are in a same-sex relationship, contact the National Helpline for LGBT+ Victims and Survivors of Domestic Abuse and Violence on 0800 999 5428 or by email at help@galop.org.uk
Housing options if you need to leave your home
If you are fleeing your home due to abuse, violence or threatening behaviour, you are advised to approach any local authority where you feel safe.
Emergency accommodation
If you can’t remain in your home because you are at risk of domestic abuse, you can apply to any local authority in the UK for housing assistance and support.
For more information about emergency housing, contact the Housing Advice Service by:
- phone on 020 7926 4200 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) or on 020 7926 1000 (out of hours)
- email at housingadvice@lambeth.gov.uk
- visiting us at the Civic Centre, 6 Brixton Hill, London SW2 1EG (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
Access a refuge
A refuge can provide somewhere safe for you and your children to stay. You can often get a place on the day you call, but you can't usually book a place for a future date.
If you are not safe in the immediate area where you live, you may need to go to a refuge in a different area.
To get advice on how to access a refuge:
- call Refuge's National Domestic Abuse Helpline Helpline on 0808 2000 247 (24-hour freephone service)
- message on Refuge's chat service
- use Refuge's BSL helpline
Stay with family or friends
Stay with family or friends may be a safe option and could give you some support. However, you must consider whether it may be possible that your abuser could guess where you are, and that this may only be a short-term solution.
Revive Domestic Abuse Relocation Service
Revive is a project by Homefinder UK that focuses on relocating domestic abuse survivors to permanent social housing, in a new and safe environment, in a different part of the country.
To learn more about this service, contact Revive by:
- phone on 020 3823 1072
- email at revive@homefinderuk.org.
Mayor of London’s Housing Moves Scheme
If you are a victim or survivor of domestic abuse, or a rough sleeper who is moving on from supported accommodation, the Mayor of London’s Housing Moves Scheme may be able to help you.
Housing Moves is a choice-based lettings scheme that enables you to move to a home within London. Housing associations contribute homes to the scheme throughout the year. These are advertised on the Housing Moves website where applicants can bid for properties they are interested in.
For more information, visit the Housing Moves scheme website.
Housing options if you want to stay in your home
There are different options available to help you stay in your home, depending on your situation.
Council tenants
Contact your neighbourhood housing office to discuss your options and agree a plan of action on 020 7926 6000.
They can also help you to arrange temporary accommodation if necessary or give you advice on making your home more secure.
Don't make any big decisions such as giving up your tenancy until you've had advice.
Neighbourhood Housing Tenancy Support
The Neighbourhood Housing Tenancy Support team provides support for vulnerable council tenants to help them sustain their tenancies. They are also able to provide support for tenants with drug and alcohol misuse who are experiencing domestic abuse or exploitation.
Contact the Neighbourhood Housing Tenancy Support team by phone on 020 7926 9772 or by email at NHTSDuty@lambeth.gov.uk.
Make your home more secure
The Gaia Centre manage the Sanctuary Scheme which helps you to remain in your own home by installing additional security. The scheme can support you with changing locks, providing window alarms and personal alarms, and fireproofing letterboxes, amongst other things. Specific security measures are assessed on a case by case basis.
Referrals for this scheme can be made by your neighbourhood housing officer or a housing advisor should you proceed with a homeless application.
The Gaia Centre can also discuss the option of protective orders with you as an additional form of security, such as non-molestation orders, occupational orders, forced marriage protection orders, protection form harassment and stalking protection orders.
For more information about the Gaia Centre, please visit our VAWG get help and keep safe webpage.
Support for children and young people
Get advice and support for children and young people experiencing domestic abuse.
You can also read the Centrepoint advice for young people experiencing violence, abuse or threats or call their helpline on 0808 800 0661.
No recourse to public funds (NRPF)
People who have no recourse to public funds are not eligible for housing assistance from the council. If you seek help because you are homeless, we will offer advice and support.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, have children and are destitute, you will be referred to Childrens Social Care for an assessment with the no recourse to public funds team. Depending on your situation, specialist we refer you to may help with a Destitution Domestic Violence Concession (DDVC) application.
Advice and support for victims who have NRPF can also be found at:
Other local support services which can be found using the Women’s Aid Directory.
Citizens Advice and law centres will also be able to provide advice. For more information, please contact the Citizens Advice.
Know your housing rights
For free information on your housing rights, read:
- Shelter's housing rights of domestic abuse survivors.
- Lambeth's Housing Domestic Abuse Policy
- Domestic Abuse Act 2021 on Gov.UK.
Still need support?
Our Housing Advice Service may be able to help you.
If you are homeless or due to be homeless in the next 56 days, the council may have a legal duty to prevent or relieve your homelessness.
Please contact us on 020 7926 4200.