Pharmacist housing referral: a guide for community pharmacy professionals

Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians working in community settings have regular contact with patients from a wide range of backgrounds, including many who live in poor housing conditions. Below, we cover how to recognise housing-related health issues and how to make a referral.

Why housing matters in a pharmacy setting

Patients with respiratory conditions, skin problems, or persistent infections may sometimes be presenting with symptoms that are caused or worsened by poor housing, particularly damp, mould, cold, or infestations. Community pharmacists are well placed to spot patterns that may suggest a housing problem because they see the same patients regularly.

Signs that a patient's health may be connected to housing conditions include:

• Recurrent or worsening respiratory symptoms (asthma, bronchitis, chest infections) that are worse in winter and at home
• Frequent presentations with skin conditions (eczema, dermatitis) that are not responding well to treatment
• Mould-related presentations, for example, aspergillosis in immunocompromised patients
• A patient mentioning cold, damp, or mould at home when discussing their medication
• A child patient whose carer mentions problems at their address

What to say

Pharmacists often have a few minutes with a patient during a medication review or minor ailment consultation. A brief, open question can open the door:

• "Is there anything about your home or where you live that you think might be affecting your health?"
• "Some of the symptoms you're describing can be made worse by damp or cold at home, is that something you've had any issues with?"

If the patient confirms housing problems, ask whether they have already raised it with their landlord or with anyone else.

Referring for housing support

If a patient describes a housing problem, particularly unresolved disrepair affecting their health, consider:

• Signposting to Citizens Advice: they can help with a wide range of housing issues
• Referring to the housing disrepair pathway: if the patient is a renter and the landlord has not fixed the problem, they may have a housing disrepair claim. Support for Tenants handles these claims on a no win no fee basis
• Documenting in clinical notes: if you are working in a surgery-based or NHS community pharmacy, document the patient's report of housing conditions. This may support future medical evidence in any claim or local authority referral
• Supporting a social prescribing referral: many community pharmacies are connected to social prescribing link workers who can follow up on housing issues

Writing a supporting letter

If a patient asks for a letter from their pharmacist to support a housing complaint or disrepair claim, keep it factual and limited to your direct observations:

• What the patient has told you about their home conditions
• What respiratory or other medication they are receiving and why
• Your professional opinion on whether the housing conditions may be contributing to their presenting symptoms

You should not make legal conclusions, those are for the court or an independent medical assessor.

When should I contact Support for Tenants?

We welcome referrals from healthcare professionals. If you have a patient who is renting and has unresolved disrepair, contact us on their behalf or share our number with them.

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

Sources

• Section 11, Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (legislation.gov.uk)
• Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 (legislation.gov.uk)