Welsh tenant body calls on landlords to be more transparent over homes’ flood history
Tpas Cymru has called on the social housing sector to make sure tenants are informed about the flooding history of their homes, after properties are left damaged by severe floods.
The tenant voice organisation wrote to chief executives and local authority leaders urging them to voluntarily change their policy so that tenants are given the same information as home buyers.
Under the current policy, landlords are not required to disclose whether a property has previously flooded.
“As a result, many tenants have suffered significant damage to their property, unaware that they could have taken steps to better protect their homes,” Tpas Cymru said.
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The idea is that if flood history is disclosed, tenants will be able to better prepare for future flooding by buying adequate contents insurance.
“Social housing exists to provide secure and stable homes, particularly for society’s most vulnerable. The current practice of withholding flood risk information undermines this principle,” the organisation said.
“Climate change affects everyone in Wales – a lot of our communities are built around seas and rivers and therefore we are going to see more frequent extreme flooding. As we build more homes in the areas that we can, we are going to have more tenants that are affected so this is the time to act.”
Storm Bert caused major flooding in November throughout the UK, with South Wales among the worst affected areas.
Housing associations in the region said that tenants are facing “significant challenges” due to the floods.
Tpas’ Tenant Pulse Advisory Group backed the proposal and said: “Transparency is vital to ensure tenants can make informed decisions about their housing.
“This is particularly important for vulnerable tenants who may not be able to deal with the stress, financial costs, or potential health risks of moving into a flood-prone property.”
One tenant responded: “As someone living in the Rhondda, I have witnessed the devastation caused by the flooding in 2020 and again in 2024. These events have left lasting scars on our communities.”
In response, a spokesperson for Community Housing Cymru said: “Tpas Cymru’s call for a voluntary review is an important stimulus for the sector.
“As we face further environmental change, Welsh housing associations are working hard to ensure that they and their tenants are as prepared as possible for new weather events – whether that is through sharing information, or continued careful consideration of where new homes may be built.”
A Welsh Local Government Association spokesperson said: “Councils are committed to supporting tenants and communities in the face of increasing flood risks and have worked tirelessly in recent months to respond to the devastating impact of flooding.
“Transparency is key to building trust and improving how we manage flood risks, and we recognise the importance of ensuring tenants have the information they need to protect their homes and belongings. Local authorities have a duty to publish Section 19 reports where 20 properties or more have been flooded and information is available from corporate websites.
“Local authorities will continue working with partners to improve resilience and keep tenants informed.”
South Wales landlord Trivallis, which saw properties affected after the River Taff burst its banks during the storm, has already committed to disclose a property’s flood history to new tenants.
The Welsh Local Government Association has also been contacted for a response.
Last December, Tpas Cymru additionally called on the Welsh government to remove red tape around heat pump planning rules. It described the current rules as “outdated” and said tenants were paying higher energy bills as a result of decarbonisation being delayed.
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