Citizens Advice has called on landlords and mortgage providers to help out people affected by the recent floods.

The national charity has asked council, private and housing association landlords either not to charge rent for uninhabitable property or to pay for alternative accommodation. It also says that mortgage lenders should give borrowers a payment break, and that councils should offer a rebate on council tax.

"We are already receiving queries from bureaux advising clients on housing problems as a result of the recent flooding," Citizens Advice head of housing Ruth Bamford commented.

"Even though the water levels have subsided people are faced with the prospect of heavy repair bills or the fact that they won't be able to return to their homes for many months.

"As a result people need to know what rights they have in this situation and whether they are liable to pay rent, mortgage or council tax on a property that they cannot effectively live in."