Flood is becoming an increasing issue for UK homeowners. Approximately 5,000 people in the UK are currently at risk of flood and water damage. In June 2016, The Environment Agency issued over 20 flood alerts, stretching from the north of England, across to Buckinghamshire and into London. (1)
UK Homes At Risk of Flood
Standard home insurance does not necessarily cover damage caused to a property in the event of a flood. If you live close to a river, lake or near to the coast, your home may be at risk of flood and water damage. Unfortunately, according to The Committee Of Climate Change, the risk of flood to UK homes is set to rise still. (2)
Flood Risk Home Insurance is offered to homeowners that live in an area of the UK that has previously suffered from flooding or is at risk of future flood. The extra cover will protect your property from potential flooding and water damage.
The UK average temperature during December 2015 hit a record-breaking 8C, approximately 4.1C above average. It is no wonder water levels are steadily rising, with temperatures increasing each year. (3) Piers Forster, Professor of Climate Science at Leeds University said, ‘There is no doubt in my mind that climate change is partly responsible for the flooding across the North of England. This December it is around 5C warmer than normal and physics tells us that 24-hour extreme rainfall increases by 7 per cent per degree’. (3)
We still can’t confirm the reason why the UK is suffering from higher levels of flood, but one thing is for sure, we all need to prepare.
Do I Live in a Flood Risk Area?
If you are worried that your home might be at risk of flood or water damage, you can check the official flood warnings and level of risk in your area by visiting The Environmental Agency website. By entering your postcode, you can see instantly if your property is at risk of flooding now or in the near future.
You can even download a handy app- Flood Alert- that will send you immediate alerts if the risk of flood increases within close proximity to your home. The app is available for free on Apple, Android and Windows devices and provides users with real time updates on flood alerts and warnings near them, at locations that are important to them and the rest of England and Wales. According to CH2M HILL, the company behind the app, over five million people in England and Wales live and work in properties that are at risk of flooding from rivers or the sea. Flood Alert enables you to quickly check the current situations both nationwide and in your local area. (4)
You can download Flood Alert here.
Flood Re Helping to Lower Home Insurance Premiums
Over the last five years or so, the UK has unfortunately suffered a higher level of flood especially in low-lying areas and around the coast. Homes that have suffered flooding in the past are often subject to more expensive home insurance premiums as they are now classed as a high risk to insure. Flood Re is a new Government scheme that has been designed to help UK homeowners at risk of flood, secure more affordable home insurance, works with UK insurance companies that provide flood risk home insurance and helps to reduce high premiums.
Lighthouse Home Insurance is an official FloodRe insurer and works with the new scheme to provide those who have either already suffered from flood or are living in a flood risk area.
You can find out more about FloodRe here.
Protect Your Home and Valuables from Flood
Whilst securing competitive flood risk home insurance is the most important method of protecting your property, you can also take steps to prevent further damage to your home and belongings.
1. As we all know, there are some possessions that have sentimental value and no matter what, simply can’t be replaced with money. Make sure these items are kept in a water tight box high from the ground. This goes for any important documents too, such as passports, birth certificates and bank details.
2. Sandbags often provided by the emergency services and the armed forces, can be strategically placed at doors, low windows and air vents/air bricks to help prevent water from entering a property. You can find out how to use sandbags to protect your property here.
3. If you believe that a flood may occur in the next couple of days, make sure that the electricity is switched off at the mains to avoid electrocution.
4. Prepare a flood box, containing essential items such as waterproof clothing, blankets, a torch, food and clean water. Staying indoors during a flood can be daunting, so preparing what you may need to stay warm and comfortable is very important.
There are a number of useful websites that provide further advice and guidance on preparing for a flood in the UK:
2. www.gov.uk/check-if-youre-at-risk-of-flooding
4. www.dfes.wa.gov.au/safetyinformation/flood/Pages/prepareforflooding.aspx
*Remember to call your insurance company in the event of a flood, to tell them what’s happened, as they will need to process your claim quickly.
Lighthouse Home Insurance is a leading provider of specialist home insurance. Specialising in non-standard policies, Lighthouse Home Insurance support the new Government scheme Flood Re to offer UK homeowners, at risk of flood and water damage, competitive and affordable home and contents insurance. To find out more about the specialist home insurance policies Lighthouse offer, visit Flood Risk Insurance.
Sources:
4. www.ch2m.com