Advice for a friend renting please tenancy related.

[pollysproggle]

Would this be a reason to withhold rent? Whats the legal bit?

A basement flat floods resulting in damp etc, huge hole in kitchen floor which is left for months (5 I think). The landlord finally gets around to sorting it and fixes a day (today) to have workman in whilst tenant is a work.
Tenant doesn't hear from the landlord at all and comes home to find the entire kitchen, units, floor, everything ripped up leaving it completely unusable. You cannot even walk in it. The whole flat is freezing too as a result.

No note or communication from the landlord whatsoever and tenant has had to email them, yet to receive a reply.
Now the landlord has probably stumbled upon a worse problem and what has happened needed to happen but where does the tenant stand in terms of paying the rent whilst there is no usable kitchen and no flooring letting in the cold?

Friend is from the States and has been putting up with a fair bit thinking he has no rights, I'm sure this is completely unacceptable but I don't want to advise him wrongly.
Any advice appreciated thanks

Withholding rent, as unfair as it might seem to keep paying in the circumstances, is generally a bad idea. Shelter have advice on their website about repairs and landlord responsibilities. Also suggest giving them a call.

Thanks @trackydacks

get your friend to read the how to rent guide (if England). Dodgy landlords prey on clueless tenants.

SPEAK to the landlord, but the best course of action seems to be an agreement that the landlord either provides alternative accommodation, or waives rent so the tenant can stay elsewhere, until this is sorted.

that said, it sounds a typical London shithole so best bet is to move.