If there's flooding in your rented home

Summary

If the damage caused by flooding is an ‘emergency hazard’ under Awaab’s Law, your landlord must make your home safe within 24 hours. An emergency hazard is when something in your home needs fixing right away, because it might cause serious harm to you or anyone you live with. You can check if the damage is an emergency hazard under Awaab’s Law on GOV.UK. If the flooding has caused damp and mould it might be a ‘significant hazard’ under Awaab’s Law. This would mean your landlord has to carry out repairs within a set timescale. Check what you can do if you have damp or mould in your rented home. If the flooding has caused a different problem, your landlord must carry out the repairs within a reasonable period of time. You’ll need to agree what’s reasonable between you, depending on the type of work to be done. You don’t need to move out if you can get safely from room to room while repairs are being done. You might be able to get a temporary rent reduction (or claim for one later) if you can’t use every room. Your landlord is legally responsible for protecting you and your belongings during this time. If you can't continue to live in your home because of flood damage and you have.

Key information

• you’ve told your landlord why you’re leaving
• your landlord has confirmed you can move back in, on the same terms as before, once the repairs are done
• your landlord has estimated how long the repairs are expected to take
• suspend rent payments on the home you've moved out of
• pay for temporary accommodation.
• you still pay the same rent for your home
• you don’t pay rent for your temporary accommodation
• suspend your rent payments while you’re not living there - this means you can get Universal Credit towards your temporary accommodation
• go back to charging you the normal amount, but pay towards your temporary accommodation instead
• you can’t avoid paying both rents at the same time
• your alternative accommodation needs adapting because you have a disability
• order your landlord to reduce your rent for the period that you’re unable to live in your home

Practical guidance

• Source: If there's flooding in your rented home

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