The UK has weathered a series of intense storms since late September, most of which have caused significant disruption and damage to properties up and down the country.
Britain experienced brief relief after Storm Ciaran swept through on November 1, only to be confronted by the ongoing Storm Debi on November 12, bringing winds exceeding 70mph, power cuts, and flooding to the North.
In recent years, flooding has become more frequent and severe. A report from Bayes Business School estimates that one in six properties in England will be affected by flood risk by 2050.
While securing home insurance can be invaluable in covering the costs of damage, it can be hard to secure in certain areas due to the increasing risk. With Storm Elin less than 24 hours away, Express.co.uk spoke to experts to find out how you can protect your property.
Home experts at Saxton Blades said: “Some areas of the UK are more challenging to get insurance due to the higher flood risk. These areas are typically places that have a history of flooding, such as coastal regions, low-lying areas, and regions near rivers.”
Coastal areas renowned for flood risk include parts of Cornwall, the east coast encompassing areas like Hull and Great Yarmouth, as well as parts of Sussex and Kent.
According to research by home security experts at ADT, Kingston Upon Hull has the highest flood risk in the UK. The data showed 16.8 percent of properties in Hull have a higher than one percent risk for flooding, indicating a potentially higher home insurance cost.
Riverine areas at high risk include parts of Lincolnshire, Somerset, Essex, Norfolk, Cumbria, and Yorkshire.
North Lincolnshire placed second in ADT’s research with 13.9 percent of its properties being at a higher than one percent risk of flooding. Doncaster had the third highest flood risk in the UK, with 12.6 percent of its properties being at a greater than one percent risk of flooding.
Emma Myrie, lead underwriter at specialist home insurer, Homeprotect, told Express.co.uk: “For properties in a flood risk area, the Government-backed Flood Re scheme is instrumental in helping to provide flood cover – this is a reinsurance scheme which allows insurance companies to offer more affordable flood cover to those living in high-risk areas.
“Not all insurance providers take part in the scheme, and not all properties are eligible so it’s worth checking that yours is if you live in a flood-prone area, or you’re considering buying a house with a higher flood risk.
“My advice is to always be truthful with your insurer about your risk details – failure to do so can result in cover being withdrawn, and being honest often means we can work together to find a solution.”
Floodproofing a home can also help to protect the property and minimise damage, Ms Myrie said.
She explained: “For example, by making sure you have sandbags or hydrosacks, fitting non-return valves on drains and pipes, varnishing floorboards and wooden skirting boards or installing water-resistant plastic skirting boards and moving any low electrical sockets to a minimum height of 1.5m above the floor.
“There are also things you can do to the exterior of your home, such as sealing exterior walls to prevent damp entering brickwork, landscaping your outside space to divert water away from the building, and fitting flood boards to windows and flood-resistant doors.”
Ms Myrie added: “Underwriters will take all effective prevention measures into account and may offer better terms if we can see that a customer is taking steps to improve their risk.
“This is where a specialist insurer with experienced underwriters who review more complex cases on an individual basis can be the best solution for you if you live in a flood risk area or have any other ‘non-standard’ requirements.”
