Repairs

Flooding in council houses

In the event of a flooding, contact us on 0300 126 3000 (in or out of hours).

You will also need to contact your  insurance provider and get instructions on how to claim if any of your property in your home is damaged. If you don't already have contents insurance for your council property, you should consider taking this out.

Damage

Flooding can affect the structure of a property, the fixtures and fittings in it and your own personal possessions. You may not get the chance to move all your belongings to higher, safer places.

Entering your property

If you need to get and force entry, break a window rather than a door. Then obtain some boarding to cover up the opening to make it secure.

Walls, doors and floors

There may be structural damage weakening the walls may have been weakened.

An inch or two of water will not normally cause structural damage but will affect timber floors and your floor coverings.

The doors may have soaked up water and could be swollen and twisted which will make them unusable. If this is the case, they will have to be replaced later.

Water and drainage

Your domestic water supply may have been contaminated so you should boil all drinking water, and the water needed for cooking use. The same applies for water to clean your teeth.

Drainage and sanitation may be compromised.

Electrics

You must not turn electricity supplies back on if any flood water has reached under floor junction boxes or wall sockets. Any of the electrical system affected must be thoroughly checked by a qualified electrician.

Dying and cleaning up

Once you are sure that the property is safe to enter, you can start to clean up and dry everything out. You will need buckets, shovels, bin bags and a broom.

Removing items

Remove everything you can from the affected part of the property. If carpets or other items are beyond recovery, put them in the garden but don't throw them away - your insurance company may want to see them. We recommend taking photos. If don't have garden, take photos and check with your insurance company that it is okay to dispose of them first.

Ventilation and drying out

Before starting to dry out the interior check around the outside to ensure that the flood water has not shifted the soil or other debris against the property walls to block airbricks. Ventilation is important, so open all the windows that you can on dry days.

Don't rush drying out by using high-powered heaters. Drying out too quickly could cause even more damage to the woodwork. Use dehumidifiers, fans, or convector heaters once your electricity supply is safely back on.

Tiled concrete floors will likely be intact but very dirty. Bare concrete which has been soaked can take up to 6 months to dry out before you can lay new flooring.

Using tradespeople

Your insurance company will have a register of tradespeople who will make repairs for you as quickly as they can, or they will approve a local builder and decorator.

Do not be tempted to employ unknown callers who offer to carry out the repairs for you. Your insurance company may not accept the charges.

Last updated 25 March 2025