Tenant group urges freeze on evictions and rent increases following floods

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Tenant group urges freeze on evictions and rent increases following floods

A tenant group has demanded a freeze on evictions and rents during any post-flood repairs.

ACORN says there is no national voice for tenants on flooding, and renters bear the brunt of the consequences.

However, ACORN fails to mention that renters can take out insurance to protect their belongings in case of flooding.

Freeze on evictions and rent rises

In a policy document, the group says: “In England, landlords are responsible for making repairs to a property after flooding, and tenants can claim for a rent reduction while the repairs are carried out. While this is a good thing in principle, it is gravely undermined by the lack of protection from eviction for the tenants through this process.

“People will stay in terrible conditions because they are worried they will be evicted if they get the landlords to make the necessary repairs. Tenants should not have to choose between living in a potentially dangerous property and risking eviction.”

ACORN is now calling for a freeze on rents and evictions during flooding to help tenants and

The group adds: “There should be a freeze on evictions and rent rises during any improvement works and after they have been completed for a certain period, in order to ensure tenants feel empowered to demand repairs and to make sure that costs are not passed onto them.

“Until such national protections are in place, housing providers with properties in flood-prone areas should introduce policies that guarantee no evictions or rent hikes in the event of flooding.”

The group adds that funds should be made available to community organisations such as ACORN for flood resilience projects.

Only 46% of tenants hold contents insurance

However, ACORN fails to mention that if a rental property is flooded, it is the landlord’s responsibility to pay out of their own pocket for repairs to the property and any landlord-provided furnishings, and landlord insurance will typically cover alternative accommodation while repairs are carried out.

For tenant belongings, tenants need to take out contents insurance themselves to protect their belongings. However, as previously reported by Property118, only 46% of the UK’s private tenants currently hold contents insurance.

The post Tenant group urges freeze on evictions and rent increases following floods appeared first on Property118.

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