Flood insurance cover – homes most at risk in the UK

Dr Gary Robertshaw

February 2012

At estimated 200,000 households will face insurance problems when the government’s protection agreement ends in 2013, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI). This agreement currently ensures insurance cover for those properties most at risk from flooding.

In anticipation of this, the ABI has identified those areas most at risk of flood damage in the UK. These also represent the areas where some residents may struggle to find adequate insurance cover.

Boston, Skegness and the Vale of Clwyd were areas identified as facing the most risk from flooding. The full list of areas most exposed is detailed below from the ABI:

·           Boston and Skegness: 7,550 homes

·           Vale of Clwyd: 7,339 homes

·           Folkestone and Hythe: 7,196 homes

·           Windsor: 7,125 homes

·           Runnymede and Weybridge: 6,541 homes   

·           Clwyd West: 6,160 homes

·           Aberconwy: 5,500 homes

·           Nottingham South: 5,043 homes

·           Great Yarmouth: 4,965 homes

·           Sittingbourne and Sheppey: 4,295 homes

·           Leeds central: 4,209 homes

·           Canterbury: 4,199 homes

A spokesperson for Defra, the government department involved, said: "We want flood insurance to remain widely available and are continuing to work with the insurance industry to ensure that this will be the case after the current agreement between government and insurers expires in 2013.”

The government has stated that it will be looking at measures to improve flood defence systems. However, under the current economic climate, there are fears that spending on such systems may be curtailed, leaving vulnerable households to foot the bill for flooding.

Furthermore, the amount of flooding is likely to increase throughout the UK due to climate change and more unpredictable weather patterns in conjunction with the growing population, which requires more house building. As land becomes increasingly scarce in an already over-populated country, this has forced some house builders to consider using land that was previously considered to be too dangerous because of flood risk.

Anyone worried about flooding should speak to their home insurance provider to find out what their policy covers and any exclusions.

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