Are general practitioners' assessments of housing applicants' health accurate?

Public sector housing is often allocated on the basis of the 'vulnerability' of applicants. As part of assessing vulnerability, housing departments request assessments from applicants' general practitioners (GPs). GP assessments submitted over 3 years to a local authority housing department were analysed. The nature of the patient group and format of the GP report discriminate against accurate reporting and hence fair assignment of housing.