Advice for Homeowners and Tenants

Going home after your property has been flooded

If you had to leave your home during flooding only return if the emergency services say it's safe to do so. Don't put yourself or others at risk by going inside the property before it's made safe.

We recommend that you only return to live in your home once cleaning has been completed. Additional work may also need to be carried out, your insurance company, housing officer, landlord, builder will advise you of this. If you decide to return to your home before cleaning is complete you should:

Contact your local water company if you notice a change in drinking water quality, such as a change in the colour, taste or smell of your tap water
Try to have some heating on at all times, consider the use of a dehumidifier
Make sure the property is well ventilated - leave windows open as much as possible
Make sure that if you have air bricks to any under floor spaces that these are unblocked to give cross ventilation to these areas.

Safety checks you should make

Don’t turn the electricity and gas back on until they've been checked by a qualified expert
If you smell gas or are worried about gas safety, you should phone the national gas emergency number on 0800 111 999
You should not go back into your home if the electricity has not been turned off at the fuse box. You should phone your electricity supplier’s emergency number as soon as possible to arrange a visit to check that the fuse box and meter are safe
Flood water can be contaminated with sewage, animal waste and other waste from drains or the surrounding area. This means it may contain harmful bacteria, viruses, or chemicals. Any contaminants in the water are usually very diluted and so the risks of getting ill are low. You should however make sure you wash your hands frequently if handling items affected by flood water
If your tap water is discoloured or has an unusual smell or taste immediately contact your water supply company for advice before use
Further advice is available at Flooding: health guidance and advice - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) and How to recover from flooding - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Home security

If you have left your home due to flood water, you should take steps to keep it secure. Ensure you:

Lock all doors to the property
Lock all windows in the property
Take any important documents with you
Take any portable devices or keys with you including car keys, laptops, iPads or computers
Try to find somewhere else to store anything valuable – maybe a family members’ or friend’s house.
Try to move other items out of sight, maybe to upstairs rooms
Secure sheds, outbuildings and garages.
Check your social media settings to limit posts to friends so you don’t advertise your house as empty
Return home regularly to check on your property

You could also consider:

Talking to trusted neighbours to support each other to monitor empty houses
Leaving curtains or blinds open so it is easier to see when people are there
Installing battery powered CCTV cameras such as a Ring doorbells
Redirecting post
Cancel or redirect any deliveries you may have scheduled

Preparing food safely

To stop harmful bacteria that might be present in flood water spreading to your food:

Don't eat any food that has been touched or covered by floodwater or sewage
Clean and disinfect all work surfaces and kitchen equipment before using them with food – in a dishwasher or by using a suitable disinfectant
Throw away wooden chopping boards and wooden spoons if they have been in contact with flood water
Clean and disinfect the inside of your fridge and food cupboards if they have been touched by flood water
Don't use work surfaces or things like plates if they are badly chipped or damaged
If your tap water may be contaminated, boil and cool it before using it to wash food that won’t be cooked, such as fruit or salad
Store opened food in a container with a lid to make sure the food doesn’t become contaminated

Food that was in the fridge or freezer

If your fridge has not been working for more than four hours, throw away the food inside
Throw away ice cream if it has gone soft
Food in a freezer can remain frozen for 24 hours or more – the fuller the freezer, the longer the contents will remain frozen.

Fruit and vegetables grown in a garden or allotment

Any fruit and vegetables you’ve grown, which are to be eaten raw such as strawberries or lettuce, which have been covered by flood water should be thrown away
Any produce growing above the water which has not come into contact with flood water (such as fruit on trees) can be washed and eaten
Vegetables underground should not be eaten raw but can be eaten if they are to be cooked and have been thoroughly washed beforehand.

How to dispose of flood damaged food

Put flood-damaged food in black plastic refuse sacks, double bagged if possible. Then seal the sacks and put them in your black bin
Remember to check with insurers before disposal because food may be insured
Do not be tempted to try to salvage food. This includes tins which may be damaged or contaminated after flooding.

Why you might see rats after a flood

During and after heavy rainfall, rat infestations in and around flooded areas increase. This is due to sewers overflowing and the loss of their usual nesting locations forcing rats above ground to seek alternative shelter.

Rats can create more problems for residents trying to cope with the after-effects of flooding. Not only can they cause damage by gnawing they can also spread diseases and contaminate food. However, there are several ways in which you can help to prevent rodents entering your home:

Clear up fallen trees, fences and any other debris that may have accumulated, especially if they are close to buildings
Make sure your property is well sealed. Check for missing roof tiles, cracks and any other openings that may let in rat
Check that any outbuildings don’t have any trapped debris that could provide nesting material for rats
Ensure all foodstuff and animal feeds are kept well sealed and dry.

If you are a homeowner and you see rats in your property after flooding, you should contact a pest control professional to deal with the problem.

If you are a tenant in a private rented, an EMH or other housing association property you should contact your landlord.

Please note - the council does not provide a pest control service.

Finding a pest control company to treat rats in my property

Pest controllers are listed in telephone directories or can be found by an online search. Further information about finding a reputable pest control company is available from the British Pest Control Association or you can also find pest controllers via the Derbyshire County Council Trusted Trader website.

When looking for a pest controller, make sure you:

Get at least three quotations
Find out if there is a call out fee or fixed charge
Find out what service and guarantee they will provide
Ensure they have insurance cover
Check their qualifications (a certificate in Pest Control from the Royal Society for Public Health or the British Pest Control Association)
If bait is used your pest controller will need to visit a few times to inspect the bait and keep it topped up
They should also carry out a final inspection once the programme is complete to ensure no bait is left behind.

If rodenticides are used, your pest controller should carry out an environmental assessment to consider the possible threats to wildlife and domestic animals.

What other information is available to support communities affected by flooding?

See information on communities affected by flooding on Derbyshire County Council's website.

I am a tenant in a private rented property

Your landlord is responsible for repairs if your rented home is affected by flooding due to rain which includes:

Fixing damage to the structure of your home
Making sure your water, gas, electricity, sanitation and heating are working
Tell your landlord as soon as possible if your rented home has flooded and needs repairs. Your landlord must then carry out the repairs within a reasonable period
You must tell your landlord if your home is so badly damaged by flooding that you must move out.

Although your landlord is not required to find accommodation if you must leave your home due to flood damage or while repairs are carried out, he may have to assist towards the cost of temporary accommodation such as a hotel.

If you must move out:

Tell your landlord why you are leaving
Make sure your landlord confirms you can move back in, on the same terms as before once the repairs are done
Confirm with your landlord how long the repairs are expected to take.

Tenants of East Midlands Homes or other housing association properties

Contact your landlord immediately if your home is at risk of flooding or has been flooded.
If you cannot stay in your home due to flood damage your housing association should provide temporary accommodation.

What to do if you are the homeowner

If you own your home and have to move out due to flooding you are responsible for finding alternative temporary accommodation such as a hotel or staying with friends or family. You will also be responsible for repairs to your property due to flood damage.

You should immediately contact your insurance company if your property is at risk of flooding or is flooded. Your buildings/contents insurance policies should cover you for:

The costs of repairs if your home is flooded
The replacement of your belongings
Other accommodation if you cannot return to your home
Legal cover and legal advice.

What to do if you are left homeless

If you are made homeless due to flooding and have nowhere to go you can contact the council’s Housing Options team for advice. You may be asked to complete a homelessness application to determine if you need to be placed into temporary accommodation such as a hotel or bed and breakfast. The council will then help you find somewhere else to live.