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Flooding

In recent years there have been increased instances of flooding bringing disruption and distress to householders. This section provides advice to tenants on what to do if your home is flooded.

What happens if my privately rented house is flooded?

If your home is damaged by flooding, your landlord is responsible for repairing the damage, this includes damage to the structure of the property and keeping the installations for the supply of water, gas, electricity, sanitation and heating in working order.

You must tell your landlord about the need for any repairs as a result of flooding as soon as possible, he or she must then carry out the repairs within a reasonable period of time.

If there has been extensive damage, you may have to leave your home while work is done but only if it is impossible for you to carry on living there. If you can move from room to room while work is carried out, then you will not have to leave.

If your home is so badly damaged that you do have to move out, your landlord does not have to provide you with somewhere else to go.

What happens if my privately rented house is so badly damaged by flooding that I can’t live there?

If your home is so badly damaged by flooding that you have to move out, your landlord does not have to provide you with somewhere else to go. If you do have to leave your home, you should not move out until:

  • both you and your landlord agree why you are leaving
  • your landlord has confirmed that you will be able to move back in once the repairs are completed and you can live there on the same basis as before
  • your landlord has given you an estimate of how long the repairs are expected to take. 

You should also reach an agreement with your landlord about rent payments before you leave. You should ask your landlord to either suspend rent payments on the house you will be moving out of, or, to pay reasonable costs towards alternative accommodation. This is especially important if you are receiving Housing Benefit as you can only get benefit to pay the rent on one property. If you receive Housing Benefit and you have to leave your home, you should get advice from the council’s housing benefit team on (01482) 394799.

If you are not able to find alternative accommodation, you should contact the council’s housing services who may be able to help you.