Housing Letters

Our GPs no longer provide housing letters.

Letters about housing are not an NHS service. It is also our experience that GP letters do not help patients to be rehoused. We cannot require the council or landlords to make improvements to properties.

Getting health information for your housing application

Housing providers may ask you for medical information, if you are:

• homeless and / or applying for social housing support the first time
• reporting recent changes in your health
• reporting how your current home is impacting your health
• reporting how / why your home is not suitable for your / your family’s circumstances

You do not need a GP letter for this. You can use existing medical letters and a medical summary from your health records. You can get this information for free. Log into the NHS App and go to the documents section. You can then give this information to your housing provider along with your application, so they have what they need to process your application.

If you believe that there is information missing from your medical records or you can’t access the NHS App, our reception team can assist you.

Please visit the Lambeth Council website for information about damp, disrepair, adaptations and other housing issues.

We can provide you with access to your medical records to help you make applications to the housing department. Our reception team can assist you with this.

• GP appointments should not be used for housing issues. Our NHS GP appointments are for medical problems.
• Self-assessment first – When applying for housing, you must complete a self-assessment form from the Council (Local Authority). This is usually all that is needed.
• If more information is required, the Council will contact us (with your permission) for a factual report.

Our receptionists can refer you to our social prescribers. Our social prescribers can offer the following support to patients experiencing housing difficulties:

• spend time talking with you about how you are coping
• help you find an activity during the week to give you time to focus on yourself and your health
• direct you to other support including citizens advice and charities
• help you find out how to make a complaint to the Council or Ombudsman about your housing

If you are asked to provide a letter, please show this information to the Local Authority Department or Housing Association.

Summary

• You do not need a GP letter
• Use your NHS App or records
• The council will contact us if needed