About medical banding & DFGs
If you need to move for medical reasons, it’s important to understand the distinction between the emergency medical band and the medical band.
These help us prioritise applicants based on the urgency and severity of their health-related housing needs.
Emergency medical band
This band is awarded only in the most urgent cases where an applicant’s current accommodation is having a significant and immediate negative impact on their physical or mental health. Rehousing must be essential and required immediately in order to prevent serious harm or to alleviate a critical health issue.
To be placed in the emergency medical band, we must receive clear clinical evidence showing that a person must move to protect their health.
This is not based on preference or general well-being - it must be supported by a medical professional, typically a specialist, who confirms that staying in the current home poses a serious risk to health.
If a medical priority is awarded for a specific type of property (for example, ground floor or level access accommodation), the applicant will only be eligible for that type of home under the emergency medical band.
An example might be a person with a severe mobility condition who cannot safely access essential facilities in their current home, and whose specialist confirms that remaining there puts them at risk of injury or worsening health.
Medical band
The medical band is for applicants whose current housing situation is negatively affecting their physical or mental health, but not to the level that requires an urgent move.
In these cases, rehousing would help to alleviate or improve the medical condition, but it is not considered critical or life-altering in the immediate term.
Like with the emergency band, medical priority may still be awarded for a specific property type, and the applicant will only be eligible for homes that match that requirement.
An example might be someone with arthritis who finds stairs painful but is still able to manage, and where their GP supports a move to a ground floor property to improve daily living.
Why clinical evidence matters
Properties such as ground floor and level access homes are in very limited supply, so it’s essential that we allocate them fairly and based on verified medical need. If you believe you or a family member needs to be considered for the emergency medical band, we strongly advise you to:
- speak to your GP or medical specialist to request a letter or report that clearly explains why you must move for medical reasons.
- when requesting medical evidence, it’s important that the information provided is detailed and specific. A general letter stating something like “my patient says moving would be better for them” is not enough.
- the evidence must explain why you medically need to move, and what impact your current housing is having on your health and wellbeing - for example, whether it is making a condition worse, preventing recovery, or causing significant risk or harm.
- submit this evidence with your application or as soon as possible.
Without this level of supporting evidence, we are unable to award the emergency medical band.
If you’re unsure what kind of information to provide, or need help understanding your current banding, please contact us.
Disabled facilities grants
Even if you are given the emergency medical band, it is unlikely you will find a home straight away - view our average waiting times.
An alternative to moving is to consider applying for a disabled facilities grant - these grants are designed to support adults and children with care needs who need to improve access in and around their homes, so they can remain living independently.
Examples of adaptations include improved wheelchair access, adapting a bathroom or bedroom, or making improvements to ensure residents can access their garden.