Writing a medical evidence letter to support a housing disrepair claim

Are you a doctor, nurse, occupational therapist, or other healthcare professional? If your patient lives in a home with disrepair, a letter from you can be strong evidence in their claim. Below, we walk through what a useful housing medical letter should say and how to lay it out.

Why the letter matters

In a housing disrepair claim, the claimant must show that the disrepair caused harm or made it much worse. That harm can be to their health, their quality of life, or their ability to use their home. A letter from a clinician who treats the patient and knows their condition is some of the strongest evidence a court or a settlement talk will look at.

You do not need to give a legal view. You do not need to blame the landlord. You do not need to say for sure that the housing caused the harm. You just need to explain the medical picture. Then point to what plausibly links the conditions described to your patient's health.

What to include

1. Your professional credentials

Give your name, professional registration, and role. For example, "General Practitioner at [Practice Name], registered with the General Medical Council".

2. Your patient

Confirm the patient's name and date of birth. Say how long they have been your patient or in your care.

3. The medical history relevant to the claim

Describe the conditions and symptoms that matter here. For example, breathing problems, skin conditions, mental health, or muscle and joint issues. Include:

• When symptoms first showed up or were diagnosed
• The trend: getting worse, getting better, or staying the same
• Any referrals, hospital stays, or care from a hospital consultant

You do not need to share the whole medical record. Only share what matters to the claim.

4. The housing conditions as reported by the patient

Say what the patient has told you about their home: damp, mould, no heating, structural problems. You are reporting what the patient said. You do not need to have visited the property.

5. Your clinical opinion on the connection

This is the most important part. Give your clinical view on whether the conditions described fit the health problems. Say whether, in your clinical judgement, the housing conditions are likely to have played a part. These wordings can help:

• "In my clinical opinion, the damp and mould described fits the breathing symptoms my patient has."
• "I would expect lasting cold like the patient describes to worsen my patient's existing heart condition."
• "The patient gets better away from home and worse at home. In my view, this fits an environmental cause of the kind described."

You are not giving a legal opinion. You are giving a clinical opinion, just as you would in any referral letter.

6. The effect on the patient's quality of life

Where it matters, describe the effect on daily life, sleep, work, and caring for others. Courts look at more than the diagnosis. They also look at the effect on everyday life.

What you do not need to include

• A legal view on who is to blame
• Proof that the housing caused the harm. A clinical opinion does not need to be certain. It only needs to say the housing is a likely or plausible cause.
• A visit to the property

Confidentiality

The letter will be used in the patient's civil claim. The patient should sign a consent form. This lets you write and release the letter. In a no-win no-fee claim, the solicitor or claims service usually handles consent forms as part of the instruction process.

Format

Write a letter on headed paper. Address it to the patient's solicitor or claims service. Sign it, date it, and add your GMC or professional registration number. That is the standard format. Most clinicians find it easier to dictate a short letter than to fill in a formal medico-legal report. For housing claims, a short clinical letter is usually enough.

How to refer

Do you think your patient has a disrepair claim, and they have not asked for advice yet? You can refer them to Support for Tenants. Call 0800 030 4669 for them (with their consent), or give them the number to call themselves.

Sources

• Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, Section 11 (legislation.gov.uk)
• Understanding and addressing the health risks of damp and mould in the home (GOV.UK)
• Pre-Action Protocol for Housing Conditions Claims, England (justice.gov.uk)

Related articles for professionals

• How to refer a patient to Support for Tenants
• Signs of disrepair, a quick checklist for professionals
• Social worker guide to housing disrepair referrals
• Consent and confidentiality when referring to us