As weather related claims rise 58%, homeowners in flood-prone areas urged to strengthen defences

Authored by RSA

A study from MORE THAN insurance of over 1,000 homeowners in the UK has revealed that 41% of those surveyed feel their home could be better prepared for a potential flood

Only three in ten (31%) of those surveyed considered the risk of flooding before they bought their home

MORE THAN data also reveals that the average flood claim costs around £39,000 and that claims have increased by 58% over the last three years

As the UK’s weather becomes more unpredictable, homeowners in flood-prone areas are being encouraged to consider flood-proofing their homes to protect against potential damage.

Analysis by home insurer MORE THAN reveals that the average number of claims it received for weather-related incidents rose by 58% over the last three years, with the average flood claim costing around £39,000.

A new study of over 1,000 homeowners finds that almost two in five (39%) of those surveyed feel their homes lack sufficient protection from flooding events. The research finds that over one in six (18%) of the homeowners surveyed say that the area they bought their house in is now considered to be ‘flood-prone’, despite not being so at the time of buying, further highlighting the importance of implementing flood prevention methods where feasible.

Top five locations with the highest level of flooding-related home insurance claims:

1. Birmingham
2. Manchester
3. Peterborough
4. Nottingham
5. Carlisle

Protecting your home against flood damage

To ensure homes are better protected against increasing flooding events, MORE THAN insurance is encouraging homeowners in flood-prone areas to explore possible flood prevention measures and implement them where possible.

For those undergoing a renovation or thinking about making changes, installing flood-resistant external doors and self-closing airbricks, opting for ceramic tiles on the ground floor, replacing fitted carpets with rugs and raising the height of electrical sockets to at least 1.5m above ground level would work to keep flood damage to a minimum.

Suzy Tiffany, Home Claims Director at MORE THAN, comments: “Flooding can cause significant damage to homes and disruption to people’s lives. As such, it is important that homeowners in flood-prone areas know how to protect themselves and their homes to mitigate damage – and the costly repairs associated with flooding. By building in stronger flood resilience measures such as pumps, flood barriers and self-closing airbricks, Britain’s housing stock will be able to better withstand future weather-related events and be as flood-proof as possible.”

Responding to a flood situation

Positively, over half (54%) of those surveyed are taking proactive steps to protect their homes and possessions. Amongst the most popular measures being undertaken are replacing wooden window frames and doors with UPVS ones (14%), having sandbags to hand (13%) and moving the boiler to an upper floor or wall mounted on ground floor. (11%)

Furthermore, of those who have not already implemented certain measures, many are still willing to do so, with installing a waterproof kitchen (e.g. plastic or stainless steel) (33%), installing a pump to remove water (31%), or raising electrical sockets at least 1.5m above ground level (42%).

For those who are reluctant to make changes, reasons include it being too costly (33%) and because they are covered by their insurance (17%).

To help homeowners better protect their homes from flooding, Flood Re has launched its Build Back Better scheme, which MORE THAN supports. The scheme is designed to reduce the cost and impact of future floods by including property resilience measures as part of flood repairs.

Preventing flood damage

In order to educate homeowners on how they can best protect their houses from flood damage, MORE THAN, in partnership with Flood Re, has created ‘The Flood-Resistant’ House’ showing some of the ways these measures can be implemented in a typical British home. These include:

1. Installing flood-resistant external doors
2. Use ceramic tiles on the ground floor with waterproof adhesive and replace fitted carpets with rugs
3. Ensure you have permeable paving surfaces on driveways and pathways
4. Add toilet pan seals
5. Raise the height of electrical sockets to at least 1.5m above ground level
6. Install a pump to remove water
7. Place your fridge and other white goods on raised plinths

Andy Bord, CEO at Flood Re adds:

“It’s becoming increasingly important for households to understand the ways in which they can protect their homes from future flooding. We know that floods have long-term impacts on families not just physically, but emotionally too.

“Our Build Back Better scheme offers householders the chance to install Property Flood Resilience measures when repairing their properties after a flood. This means that should the worst happen again, they are better placed to keep as much water out as possible to mitigate the damage.”

Highlighting and raising awareness of the different steps homeowners can take to build their flood resilience forms part of MORE THAN’s wider ambition to help build resilient communities, adapting to climate change by being better prepared for severe weather.

For more information on how to prepare your home for a flood visit MORE THAN’s website for a guide to home flooding risk.

Top items British homeowners would choose to save from a flood