What’s your flood risk?

Between 3 December 2015 and 3 January 2016 there were over 22,000 flood claims, with an estimated £1.3bn being paid by insurers following the destruction caused by storms Desmond, Eva and Frank.

How do you know if you’re at risk?

More than 5.5 million homes are at risk of flooding, with those in the highest risk category facing a 1 in 30 chance of being flooded in a given year. You can find general guidance on flood risks online. The Environment Agency’s site includes maps that indicate the areas at the highest risk like coastal properties or those built on flood plains. You can also sign up to their free flood alerts if you’re in a medium to high-risk area, and you’ll want to keep an eye on the news for the latest weather forecasts. You could also pay to have a property-specific report

– although this may not be a huge help if you do come home to a deluge in your dining room.

Minimising the damage caused by flooding

 There are a number of measures you can take to help prevent excessive damage to your house in the event of a flood, including:

• sandbags or flood barriers to hold back the flood water
• flood resistant covers on air bricks
• if a storm is predicted, roll up any carpets and rugs where you can
• take down curtains or loop the ends to avoid water damage
• cover large electrical goods with plastic sealable bags

Flood insurance

In order to be financially covered in the event of a flood, you will need to have buildings and contents insurance. If you rent out a property, you’ll need to have buildings cover and your tenants will require contents insurance. With experts suggesting the frequency and intensity of the storms that hit our shores set to rise, it’s more important than ever to insure your home against the possibility of flood damage.

If you’re in the process of buying a property or you need to renew your buildings and contents insurance, talk to us and we’ll help you get the right cover for your home.