what do i do? agents/house/landlord??

[kayb123]

Hi all, looking for some advice i have tried contacting CAB but the phone lines just ring and ring?!.. so not much help.

I/we (family) currently live in a private rented house let out by estate agents, the house was recent involved in a flood that wiped out the whole of downstairs, we are currently living upstairs and the landlords insurance want us to move out, as work is being undertaken. We dont have funds to find another place with deposit etc.. and family is not viable as we have pets. The letting agents has wiped it hands of us and said from the flood date you will pay no rent you will have to find your own accomadtion, and that we should speak directly to the landlord about the house, yet i suppose as soon as work is almost finished expect full rent when we have just paid out for rent somewhere else.

Is this normal to find your own place?? who would normally step in in these situations? and do i still infact have to give the full months notice to move and get my deposit back since they are not actually managering the house no more?

any input would be grateful. many thanks to those who read/replied.

I am sorry you find yourself in this situation, must be terrible for you. I don't know the answer for sure so I hope you can get hold of someone at the CAB but my landlord insurance policy also covers finding the tenants accommodation if the house can not be occupied with building works so I presume this points to it being mandatory but if not your landlord may have this cover as well.

I guess then the landlord is getting away with normal buildings insurance then, if under 'rented' it also covers the tenants. :(

Is it worth phoning Shelter for advice?

You need to talk to your local council's Housing Officer today.

If you are unable to fund a deposit to get new accomodation then you will need to be found local authority emergency shelter if you have children.

You shoud get your deposit back immediatley if you have been released from the tenancy. The house is uninhabitable and you can therefore leave immediately and the agent has no right to demand a notice period or hold your deposit. It is is no longer the agent's or LL's responsibility if in a force majeur situation llike this that the house is made unihabitable and the lease contract does therefore becomes null and void.

thank you for your help/advice. i am currenlty awaiting a appointment with housing and cab as they may offer different advice, though it is good to know that we may be entiltled our deposit back and not need to do the month notice.