Cannot afford to pay gp

[Aimeepp]

I can't afford to pay my GP for medical evidence for social housing and I'm living in a dangerous house I can't get landlord to fix plus it's not suited to my disabilities. I've not been able to fund a safe place to live because I can't pay my GP . The surgery isn't interesting in supporting me.

[AgedCrone]

if you are in the U.K. you should go to the nearest Citizen’s Advice Bureau for advice.

If they can’t help, they will know who you should contact.

[Aimeepp in reply to AgedCrone]

I have done that . They said I would just have to try and pay when money was better . Or take the rental agency to court to give repairs but I dint have money to take them to court .

[AgedCrone in reply to Aimeepp]

Well that’s not a lot of help is it? Have you had a word with the Benefits office?

What is it that is so dangerous about your house.? Have you enquired how much it would cost to fix? Can you get an estimate & tak/ send it to the council? If the house really is dangerous & not just inconvenient ..l wonder if they might have the power to get the Landlord to make repairs?

[medway-lady in reply to AgedCrone]

They do and I've done charge backs (taken rent then forwarded leftover to landlord) Its simple and common and CAB should know about it. I've responded below.

[Shep22]

Have you tryed the social services and welfare rights through council They also right reports

You could also usually free of charge

Ask for a print out of your medical notes at gp surgery

Theres also the homeless route you'd maybe get max medical points

[Aimeepp in reply to Shep22]

Yes but they have told me I have to pay GP or they can't put me back in housing list . The council here first excepyftee reports as they are only print outs of things council does not require . They want a detailed report from GP. Council won't accept free ones not detailed enough . Don't list disabilities etc . I am partially paralyzed and have multiple health problems . My house has black damp mould dangerous electrical sockets insecure doors walls crumbling with damp wallpaper peeling off wall wall moves in Hugh wind has holes in ,and cannot use bath or shower have to have sink strip washes as water comes through ceiling in kitchen . At one point I had no toilet fur three weeks and had to use a bucket in my garden and dispose of waste mysejf .Have bought 6 years to get landlord to fix and will not . Cab have advised I move or pay a solicitor to take to court and I have no money to pay s solicitor and they have turned case down anyway . My stated are loose I've broken bones loose carpet with nails that have stuck in my feet. The house also has no heating or gas that's why it was cheap .

[Aimeepp in reply to Aimeepp]

Social services said they can't help .

[Impie in reply to Aimeepp]

What about local MP and rheumatology consultant ? Maybe ask how much your GP is wanting to charge you? Please don't answer if this is too personal x

[Aimeepp in reply to Aimeepp]

The council have told me to go on the streets for a min if dux years then go back to them and they said they would consider helping but not guaranteed but Said I have to go on streets for 6 years before I can ask fur any kind of unguaranteed help .

[Aimeepp in reply to Aimeepp]

A min of 6 years *

[AgedCrone in reply to Aimeepp]

I think you must have misunderstood…..even if they can’t help you surely a council would not advise you to “go on the streets”

[Shep22 in reply to Aimeepp]

About the Ot from council they not visit and write report

Maybe complain to gp practice under circumstances doc may write report

[AgedCrone in reply to Aimeepp]

That sounds disgraceful. Write what you have written here & send it to your MP

[Shep22 in reply to Aimeepp]

Have the council not said the house is unsafe for you

Also can you not ask the landlord to give you notice

Some do 30 and 60 days

Depending on agreement maybe better option then council put yiu in temporary until they find a house

Then council will have to put you in temporary accommodation

Landlord may do this for yiu as not getting legal action etc

P.s can I ask how much gp report is

[Tempo57 in reply to Aimeepp]

You say your house is cheap. How cheap?

[medway-lady]

There is a mechanism in local authority control whereby they can order repairs and take the cost from the rent you'd normally pay your landlord. So in effect forcing repairs to be done. I've done the order take the rent in lieu of costs of improvements. So go back to CAB and ask them to help you to make an approach to Council or ask the Public Health Officer to help. It won't cost anything but the repairs need to be essential works not just needed. So like repair to toilet or shower, hot water or heating not new wallpaper. I hope that helps if CAB don't understand ask your local housing department as well. You need to look at tenancy agreement too, did you agree to these conditions for cheap housing and finally is the Housing Benefit Office paying benefit for what sounds like squatting conditions, if so talk to them. They may come out or even refer to Public Health for more information. I'm not saying these thoughts will definitely help you but it might move things forward. You might even get a social loan to pay GP repayable from benefit but I've never heard of a GP influencing housing repairs. So I hope those thoughts help.

PS I've assumed you have RA as this page is for RA or associated conditions but notice you say partially paralysed so also ask for the patients advocacy person at your hospital who helps the partially mobile as surely special needs apply. ? Even could PALS help point you in right direction but beware of risk of eviction too. Just the final thought really if your an unprotected tenant especially if no tenancy agreement.

[Vixen2]

i’m sorry Aimeepp. But i can’t believe what you’re saying. You’ve been ‘advised’ by the council to make yourself homeless for 6 yrs? Min??? The council will not help you if you deliberately make yourself homeless. That’s one of their ‘golden’ rules. Making yourself intentionally homeless. Is something they will defo not help people with. Maybe you could get your locap MP involved. Good luck.

[BoneyC]

What about the charity Scope, maybe they could help?

scope.org.uk/advice-and-sup...

[HeadInASpin]

Hi Aimeepp. Sorry to hear that you find yourself in such difficult living conditions. Your issue here is nothing to do with your health problems at all, as the conditions you describe are not suitable for anyone to live in. Your GP report is unlikely to resolve the problem. If you've not already please see link below... citizensadvice.org.uk/housi...

I worked as a letting Agent for several years before RA so here are a few pointers ...

1. Read your tenancy agreement and contact your agent if you have one.

2. Contact your council, they will have someone who can come and inspect the property and give notice to the landlord to effect repairs

3. NEVER withhold your rent, this could massively affect your prospect of renting again in the future.

4. Be prepared to move out. It may not be safe for you to stay there whilst repairs are undertaken. If you're still in tenancy, the landlord should provide accomodation but if the original tenancy terms has ended, the landlord could serve you notice.

5. If you receive notice (section 21 with 6a) take it to your council immediately.

6. Sadly I have heard of councils telling people to wait until they're actually evicted before they will give them emergency accommodation but do ensure that you have your GP health summary (free from GP) as it will list your medical conditions and take that with you too. You won't need an expensive report at this point.

7. Try to make contact with local charities that can either advocate for you or help find somewhere else to live. They sometimes provide grants to help with first months rent and deposit.

Good luck.

[medway-lady in reply to HeadInASpin]

This is good advice, I know the Council can take rent and pass to landlord after making deduction if they have effected the repairs. I did the charge back instruction as my council did instruct for essential repairs but it was rare. And never heard of a GP being involved but perhaps rules changed in past couple of years.

[HappykindaGal]

This sounds terrible. Not sure if your age so forgive me if I’m miles off. Have you spoken to Age UK as they’re very helpful. How much is the report from the GP? Have they agreed to write one and will it make a difference?

As previously said, do not withhold any rent as you’d potentially end up in a complete mess.

[Jeppy]

have you a decent MP to write to

[cyberbarn]

With the GP surgery have you made a formal complaint to the practice manager? They have the right to charge for letters now, but they should also have referred you to the social prescriber who would be able to help support you. The social prescribers may know of other voluntary and community organisations that could support you too.

Also, do you have full access to your GP electronic health record? This could be through the NHS app or direct through the surgery. This will list you conditions and if you have access on a mobile device, smart phone or iPad, then you can show that to others to prove the medical issues you have. GP surgeries have to let everyone have access to their own records now.

[Craftywonky]

How about asking for an OT assessment. Might help with evidence. Good luck xx

[Green230461]

Ask police for a report

[katieoxo60]

Hi Aimeepp, sorry to here you're in such a disgusting position. Health wise I would request your council to do an ot report, social care report , and an assessment of needs. This costs nothing and can be done on line on your pc or phone or laptop or a friends computer. As advised your gp cannot refuse access to medical evidence and its free. These steps would identify your disabilities and need for proper adapted accommodation. Housing wise its been established your landlord is not meeting his obligation to his tenant . In general these days you can withhold your rent , be evicted and rehoused by the council. But here's another way the property is in uninhabitable condition from what you stated on this post, the landlord can get a grant to make it habitable, and change the interior to meet your disability needs from the local council you only have to give the landlord proof of your need. If you really want to make a public issue against the Landlord then report it to the Media, your local Mp for that area, the local council as uninhabitable accommodation. It takes 18 months for a landlord to get eviction carried out. Remember the rental agency might suggest you caused the damage if you took them to court. I would go down the route of maybe eviction and looking for somewhere else to live in the 18 months it takes to process. None of it is easy But do try to get your disabilities confirmed so you can pressure the situation. Every best wish hope this helps you

[agnesmay]

Contact your Local Authority and request an Enviromental Health Officer come and inspect your accommodation, they have powers to force private landlords to make good any disrepair. Also the Homelessness section of the Authority should offer you priority rehousing because of your disabilities and state of your privately rented accommodation..