Flood victims need more help - Citizens Advice

The charity has appealed to all councils, housing associations and private landlords either not to charge rent while a property is uninhabitable, or to pay for alternative accommodation.

At the same time, it is asking mortgage lenders to give borrowers a payment break, and councils to offer a rebate on council tax, for any period where a property is uninhabitable as a result of flood damage.

Landlords and lenders are also being asked to show forbearance in coming months to tenants and borrowers who get into arrears with rent or mortgage payments as a result of the impact of the floods on their finances.

Citizens Advice's head of housing, Ruth Bamford, said: “We are already receiving queries from bureaux advising clients on housing problems as a result of the recent flooding.

“Even though the water levels have subsided people are faced with the prospect of heavy repair bills or the fact that they won’t be able to return to their homes for many months. As a result people need to know what rights they have in this situation and whether they are liable to pay rent, mortgage or council tax on a property that they cannot effectively live in.”