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Medical evidence for disrepair claims and homelessness reviews.
Medical reports on illness caused or made worse by damp, mould and disrepair, and on vulnerability for homelessness reviews. Send the issues and your deadline. The search is free for either side, and we take legally aided cases.
What you get for a housing case.
Tell us the issues and your deadline.
Experts who can report in time
You get each expert’s CV, fee and availability, so you can see who can report before your deadline.
For either side
We find experts for claimants and defendants. We check experts for registration and insurance, and quotes come within the legal aid rates.
Through to the report
A named case manager arranges the appointment and manages the instruction through to delivery of the report. Reports usually take 1 to 2 weeks, or 2 to 3 days when urgent. Timescales are estimates and depend on expert availability, the appointment and receipt of the relevant records.
Housing conditions claims with an injury element.
In England, the Pre-Action Protocol for Housing Conditions Claims draws the line between a GP letter and expert evidence.
Where the injury claim needs expert evidence other than a GP’s letter, the Personal Injury Pre-Action Protocol applies to that element (para 3.5). Tell us the illness, who in the household is affected and the dates, and we find an expert who can report on it.
Wales has its own Pre-Action Protocol for Housing Disrepair Cases. Evidence on the condition of the property comes from a surveyor, not a medical expert.
Damp, mould and health.
Government health guidance for England says damp and mould predominantly affect the airways and lungs.
Source: “Understanding and addressing the health risks of damp and mould in the home”, DHSC, MHCLG and UKHSA, updated 1 April 2026. The expert gives an opinion on your client; a diagnosis alone does not prove what caused it.
Awaab’s Law in social housing.
Since 27 October 2025, social landlords in England must deal with significant hazards linked to damp, mould or fungal growth, and emergency hazards of any kind except those linked to a lack of adequate space for living and sleeping (Hazards in Social Housing (Prescribed Requirements) (England) Regulations 2025, reg 3(2)). From 30 November 2026, subject to Parliament approving draft regulations, Awaab’s Law is due to cover further hazards, including excess cold and heat, falls, structural collapse, fire and explosions, electrical hazards and domestic hygiene.
A significant hazard is one that poses a significant risk of harm; an emergency hazard poses an imminent and significant risk of harm (reg 3). Medical evidence often goes to how serious that risk was for the household.
Tenants of private landlords can still bring a disrepair claim, and the medical evidence is the same: see housing conditions claims above.
Vulnerability in homelessness decisions.
In England, medical evidence is often central to whether an applicant is vulnerable.
An applicant has priority need if they are vulnerable as a result of old age, mental illness or handicap, physical disability or other special reason (Housing Act 1996, s189(1)(c)). The test is whether the applicant would be significantly more vulnerable than an ordinary person would be if they became homeless (Homelessness Code of Guidance, para 8.16).
The housing authority should have regard to advice from medical professionals, but the final decision is its own (para 8.25). It may take account of support from family or others, if that support will be consistent and predictable (para 8.17). A report should therefore deal with your client’s actual condition and day-to-day needs.
See GP expert witnesses and physicians in acute and general medicine. For mental illness as the reason for vulnerability, see psychiatric expert evidence.
Review and appeal deadlines.
In England, the medical evidence needs to reach the reviewing officer before the review decision.
- Review: request it within 21 days of being notified of the decision, or any longer period the authority allows in writing (Housing Act 1996, s202(3)). In most cases the review decision is due within eight weeks of the request (Homelessness (Review Procedure etc.) Regulations 2018, reg 9)
- Appeal: on a point of law to the county court, within 21 days of being notified of the review decision (s204(1) and (2)). The county court looks at whether the review decision was lawful. Give us the decision date, and we find experts who can report before the review is decided
Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
We find experts for housing cases across the UK. Tell us where the property is.
Wales
- A person is in priority need if vulnerable as a result of some special reason, for example old age, physical or mental illness or disability (Housing (Wales) Act 2014, s70(1)(c))
- The Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Act 2026 abolishes differences in entitlement related to priority need, and omits s70, from a day the Welsh Ministers appoint (s9 and s43(2)); until then, s70 applies
- Review: request it within 21 days of being notified of the decision (Housing (Wales) Act 2014, s85(5)). Appeal: on a point of law to the county court, within 21 days of being notified of the review decision (s88)
Scotland
- The priority need test was abolished from 31 December 2012 (Homelessness (Abolition of Priority Need Test) (Scotland) Order 2012)
- The doctor gives evidence as a skilled witness
Northern Ireland
- Priority need includes a person vulnerable as a result of old age, mental illness or handicap, physical disability or other special reason (Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1988, art 5(1)(c))
Questions about medical evidence in housing cases.
For anything else about your case, call us.
Call 0121 752 6061Can damp and mould make a tenant ill?
Yes. Government guidance says damp and mould predominantly affect the airways and lungs, with an increased risk of airway infections and allergic airway disease. Whether they caused your client’s illness is the expert’s question.
Does Awaab’s Law apply to private landlords?
No. The 2025 Regulations apply to lessors of social homes in England (reg 1(4)).
Who decides whether a homeless applicant is vulnerable?
The housing authority. It should have regard to medical advice, but the final decision is its own (Homelessness Code of Guidance, para 8.25).
How quickly can you find an expert for a review?
Reports usually take 1 to 2 weeks, or 2 to 3 days when urgent. Timescales are estimates and depend on expert availability, the appointment and receipt of the relevant records. Put the decision date in the outline.
Send the case. We find the experts.
- The type of caseFamily, personal injury, criminal, immigration, employment…
- The specialty, or the issuesIf you are not sure who you need, describe the medical questions
- The court or tribunalAnd any directions already made about expert evidence
- Your deadlineHearing, filing or limitation date
- How the case is fundedLegal aid, private, CFA or insurer
Send a case enquiry, obtain CVs and quotes in minutes
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You can also call us on 0121 752 6061.
Tell us your deadline.
We send you the CVs, fees and availability of experts who can meet it.