Landlords and mortgage lenders urged to help flood victims

Citizens Advice is today calling on landlords and mortgage lenders to ease the burden on people driven out of their homes by flood damage.

The national charity has appealed to all council, housing association 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 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.”

Citizens Advice has also published a factsheet for tenants affected by the floods, giving tips and information on their rights in the current situation. It advises tenants who have to move out of their homes to try to reach an agreement with their landlord about paying the rent,

The factsheet is available to download from the Citizens Advice website adviceguide.org.uk.