Abusive ex and housing

[Alectrona]

My friend left a coercive abuser earlier this year and is in a women's refuge about to be rehoused. Her ex said he'd take her name off the joint housing association tenancy but hasn't. I knew he wouldn't.
Now he is saying he'll only agree to take her name off the tenancy if she pays half the rent due this month. He will do this next month too, and the one after as it is a way of still controlling her.
My friend is in the process of arranging a loan to pay him.
Apparently the HA have said that while it isn't great, she is liable for rent while her name remains on the tenancy.
Surely this can't be right? Sounds like extortion and continued control to me. She is in a women's refuge because of him. Any housing officers, lawyers who specialise in housing law out there?
TIA

She's liable but she doesn't have to pay it of course. If he wants to stay there it's up to him to pay full rent. If neither pay they'll chase both for the arrears.

Ring Shelter's helpline and ask them, they're great on this sort of thing.

The people who work in the woman's refuge are best placed to advise her on this.

Thanks everyone. It's the refuge workers who are organising a loan for her. It seems to me like a really bad idea for her to go along with this as he will keep on demanding money, just like a blackmailer.
He's very disobliging and is punishing her for leaving him so he will never do anything to help her, such as taking her name off the tenancy.
I'm surprised it's even up to him, I thought if you leave an abuser you can ask the HA to take your name off and they will.
She is about to be rehoused and is worried she won't be if she owes rent on the old place she shared with him.

I second speaking to shelter.

Was the abuse reported to the police? If so and she is recognised as fleeing domestic abuse the HA should remove her name from the tenancy.

If it is a joint tenancy she can unilaterally give notice ending his right to occupy. Maybe she should ask him which he’d rather, take her off the tenancy or she ends it?

Thanks @DontBiteTheCat. Yes, it has been reported to the police but they've been pretty useless.
Is that right, @Enterthewolves ? In that case that's fantastic.
She is still very scared of him and is very reluctant to do anything other than what he demands.