When Disrepair harms your health, who pays the medical bills?
For many Desi people living in Birmingham, Manchester, and Leicester, issues like mould, damp, and broken heating in their houses can lead to GP appointments, private medical expenses, and prescription charges. But did you know that these medical expenses can often be claimed as part of your housing disrepair compensation?
At Claim Today, we help the working South Asian community recover not just from physical damage but also from every cost tied to living in unsafe housing. This is what’s covered, how it works, and what proof you will need to submit a successful claim.
What Medical Expenses Can You Claim?
If your health has suffered due to poor housing conditions, you may be entitled to recover the full cost of treatment, including:
🩺 GP Visit and Consultation Fees
NHS GP visits are free. However, in emergency and urgent situations, people will often go to private GPs due to the long waiting lists for NHS services.
You can claim back the fees for private GP appointments (usually £40-£100). If it’s in relation to the housing disrepair, for example, chest infections from damp.
🧠 Mental Health Support
Living in a house with constant mould, leaking ceilings, or pests creates unique levels of stress and anxiety.
Counselling and therapy, as well as psychiatric services, are permissible expenses for reimbursement if medically indicated.
Private mental health care is often faster—its costs can be added to your claim.
Example: A family in Bradford claimed therapy costs after their child developed anxiety from repeated black mould exposure.
💊 Prescription & Medication Costs
A lot of Desi families buy over-the-counter meds (inhalers, cough syrups) or prescription items for asthma, skin infections, and/or respiratory conditions.
If you can find these expenses in medical records, they can be reimbursed through compensation.
Private Healthcare and Specialist Treatment
🧬 Specialist Fees
You’ll typically be referred to dermatologists, pulmonologists, ENTs, or paediatricians for problems such as:
Asthma
Skin rashes
Chronic sinus issues
Private assessments and tests (a.k.a. allergy testing, X-ray, and CT scan) tend to be very expensive in themselves, but if connected to disrepair-related problems, the cost would be refundable.
✅ Claimable Example
A tenant in London paid for a private paediatric lung specialist after her toddler developed wheezing in a damp, unheated flat. With evidence from the doctor and housing inspector, we helped recover £850 in specialist fees.
Other Treatments and Preventive Services
Not all treatments are medical, but they can be helpful.
🌿 Alternative Treatment Claims
Steam inhalers, air purifiers, or herbal treatments may be recommended by some doctors or Desi elders.
If supported by receipts and linked to your condition, these can form part of your medical expense claim.
🛡️ Preventative Care
Additional vaccines, supplements, and possibly vitamin D prescriptions (which are standard in moist settings with little sunshine) might be included.
Ongoing & Continued Care Costs
For tenants who’ve developed chronic illness, costs may go beyond a one-time visit:
♿ Ongoing Support
Home care visits
Assistive Aids (e.g., humidifiers, walking sticks)
Long-term mental health support
These can all be valued professionally and recovered.
What Proof Do You Need to Claim Medical Expenses?
Here’s what helps support your housing disrepair claim for health costs:
Medical records showing a diagnosis linked to housing issues
Receipts for all treatments, medications, and consultations
Referral letters from the NHS to private specialists
Photos of property damage (e.g., mould near the child’s bed)
Repair reports or surveys linking the environment to health
Tip: Keep a simple health journal or WhatsApp notes tracking symptoms and visits. These can become powerful supporting evidence.
Why This Matters for the Desi Community
Many Desi tenants (especially elders or busy working parents) ignore or pay out-of-pocket for medical issues caused by poor housing. Some believe:
“It’s just a cough—why make a fuss?”
“We don’t have time for court.”
“Koi faida nahin hoga.” (There’s no point.)
But unsafe housing should not cost you your health or your money. Our job is to make sure your family’s wellbeing is respected and protected—and that includes every penny spent on treatment.
Call to Action: Start Your Health-Linked Housing Claim Today
🏠 Living in poor housing and paying for health problems? You may be owed more than you think.
🧾 Let us review your medical expenses, treatment receipts, and symptoms—all confidentially.
🌐 Visit www.claimtoday.com and message us today to start your housing disrepair claim.
We speak Punjabi, Urdu, and Hindi, and we support Desi tenants across Manchester, Birmingham, Leicester, and beyond.
Internal Links (for integration)
What is Housing Disrepair?
Can I Claim for Damp and Mould?
How Long Does a Claim Take?
Compliance Disclaimer
This article provides general guidance on medical costs in housing disrepair claims and does not constitute legal advice. Outcomes depend on the evidence and facts of each case. Claim Today is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
