Multi-agency working and housing referrals: a guide for professionals

Professionals working with tenants in poor housing often need to involve more than one agency to resolve the problem. You will find out how multi-agency working applies to housing disrepair and related issues, and how to refer clients effectively.

Why multi-agency working matters in housing cases

Tenants with disrepair problems frequently have overlapping needs, health conditions made worse by poor conditions, financial difficulties, risk of eviction, safeguarding concerns, or support needs. A disrepair case that looks purely legal on the surface may also involve:

• A referral to environmental health for a formal inspection
• Medical evidence from a treating clinician
• Social care involvement for vulnerable adults or children
• Housing options advice from the council
• Welfare benefits review

Coordinating these threads early improves outcomes and avoids tenants falling through the gaps.

Who should be involved?

Depending on the tenant's circumstances, relevant agencies may include:

Legal: housing solicitors, law centres, Legal Aid providers, housing disrepair specialists (such as Support for Tenants)

Environmental / regulatory: council environmental health officers, the Homes England Decent Homes programme, the Regulator of Social Housing (for housing association landlords)

Health: community nurses, health visitors, mental health teams, occupational therapists, all can provide evidence and make referrals

Social care: adult social care (for tenants with care needs), children's services (if children are affected), safeguarding leads

Financial: welfare benefits advisers, debt charities, local authority discretionary housing payment teams

How to make an effective housing referral

When referring a client for housing disrepair support:

1. Document the disrepair clearly, photographs, dates when the landlord was notified, any previous communication with the landlord or council
2. Obtain written evidence of health impact, the treating clinician's observations, even brief ones, can be important
3. Note any vulnerability factors, disability, age, children in the property, mental health conditions
4. Confirm consent, the client's informed consent to share information with a solicitor or other agency is needed before making a referral
5. Record the referral pathway, note who you referred to, when, and what the client was told

What Support for Tenants can do

We handle housing disrepair claims on behalf of private and social tenants. We work on a no-win no-fee basis. A referral to us involves no cost to the client and no obligation. We carry out our own legal assessment once a referral is made.

For professionals making multiple referrals, we are happy to discuss a referral pathway that works for your service.

Information governance

When sharing client information across agencies, ensure this is done in line with data protection requirements and with the client's informed consent. Use secure communication methods and record all disclosures.

When should I refer a client to Support for Tenants?

If a client has reported disrepair to their landlord and the landlord has failed to act, a referral to us is appropriate. The client does not need to have already tried other routes.

Call us on 0800 030 4669. No upfront cost for your clients; they only pay if we win.

Sources

• Section 11, Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (legislation.gov.uk)
• Care Act 2014 (legislation.gov.uk)

Related articles

• Housing solicitor, when to instruct one