Failed water pipe
Failed water pipe caused the escape of water and £1000s of damage to properties - landlords obligation to house tents so if the property can’t be lived in while negotiating with insurance and works taking place the landlord will have to rehouse a tenant.
Insurance - check your policy for the correct cover and the specific excess.
Landlord Obligations - If the property is not habitable due to the damage, you will have a legal obligation to provide alternative accommodation for your tenants. This could include temporary housing such as a hotel or a rental property. You may also have to cover any costs associated with this, such as relocation fees and deposits. There may also be other costs to consider, such as food and transport if they are unable to stay in the same area.
If you are unable to provide alternative accommodation yourself, you should contact your local council which may be able to provide emergency housing for your tenants until the repairs are completed and the property is habitable again.
You should also ensure that your tenants are kept updated on the progress of the repairs and that they are given reasonable notice if they need to move out while the works are taking place.
Finally, you should ensure that your insurance policy is up to date and that it covers any costs associated with the repair and alternative accommodation.
This is not always the case as normally it is something that needs to be stipulated in the tenancy agreement. What you may find is that if the cause of the flood was poor upkeep of piping, then this would fall under the responsibility of the landlord to provide alternative accommodation. Check the insurance policy as the tenant is well within their rights to claim on your landlord's insurance if their property was destroyed during this due to a fault with the water pipes.
