UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hi there,

To give as brief a background as I can: I am writing on behalf of my brother, who has mild learning difficulties but lives/rents his own flat. He rents this flat through a letting agent. To my knowledge he has zero way to contact the landlord other than through them.

Back in mid-late September there were some horrific storms and my brother's flat ceiling partially collapsed with the rain damage - it was immediately clear from the photos that it would be an insurance job (carpets ruined, ceiling down in 3 of 5 rooms, water damage etc). It's worth noting here that both his landlord and letting agent were already aware the roof needed fixing prior to the storm, as he had watermarks on the ceilings already, which they'd viewed previously and discovered some tiles needed fixing - as I'm sure you'll guess nothing was done about it.

The agent/landlord were reasonably good about sending someone out to check over the damage, and duly told my brother he'd have to grab important belongings and move out until repairs could be sorted. The landlord put him up in a replacement, much smaller, flat (AirBnB I think). He was told he'd likely need to be out for a month.

Roll on five months and he's still in the AirBnB thing. Most of his possessions/furniture are still in "his" flat.

For various reasons I monitor his emails, and I can see him attempting to get updates from his agent - but gets virtually nothing back. He has been back inside the flat twice since he was told to leave. Once in ~November, and once around 3 weeks ago. From his view nothing has been done to the interior of the flat (I believe they have resolved the roof issue to prevent further damage) - the photos he sent me on 08/02 still show collapsed ceilings, damp walls and carpets.

I thought perhaps they were using dehumidifiers or something to dry the flat out, but he said no noticeable machinery/tools present.

Whenever he asks for an update on progress from his agent it seems he gets a blanket vague reply to effect of "your landlord has agreed to extend your AirBnb by another XX weeks" - not once in the emails I've read from them have I seen an update on the flat, or an ETA on when he might actually be able to move back into the flat he pays to rent.

So here's the question(s) - from someone who doesn't rent, or have any real experience with landlords. Is this normal? Does he have any rights here? Does anyone here have any advice I can try? e.g., putting together a really shi&&y email to the agents on his behalf (he's not really able to articulate things like this himself).

I just really feel for him. Most of his life is in that flat - tv, computer, all his furniture etc. The place he's being put up in is fine, but it's nowhere near as nice a location (in proximity to his place of work).

Thank you in advance for any advice you may have 

No this isn't how it's meant to happen. But insurance companies and builders are hard to deal with.

The point I'd make to the agent is that the accommodation was offered and accepted as a temporary measure, but that it's not an equivalent to the original property which is what is needed for the longer term.

The danger is that the landlord might simply try and bring the tenancy to an end rather than address the issue properly.

Quote from: jpkeates on February 28, 2025, 11:24:23 AMThe danger is that the landlord might simply try and bring the tenancy to an end rather than address the issue properly.

I wonder whether it would be sensible to report the damage to the Council's environmental health team as a precaution against retaliatory eviction: https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/repairs/revenge_eviction_if_you_ask_for_repairs