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Insurance payments if you reduce the risk of flooding

Insurance cover against flooding is generally available for the majority of properties in the UK. However, insurers cannot guarantee to provide cover in all circumstances.

Check your buildings and contents insurance policy to:

• make sure you are covered for flooding
• find out if flood damaged belongings will be replaced with new ones (a 'new for old' policy)

If you rent, contact your landlord to check what buildings insurance is in place.

Taking action to reduce the risk of flooding may bring your insurance premiums down. However, you will need to discuss this with your insurer before you install any flood protection products, as different insurance companies take different views on how this affects your policy.

• Preparing for a flood

• Association of British Insurers Opens new window

• Download 'Preparing your property for flooding' from the Environment Agency (PDF, 280K) Opens new window

• Help with PDF files

• Kitemark scheme for flood protection products - Environment Agency advice Opens new window

• Flood map from the Environment Agency Opens new window

After a flood - making an insurance claim

Different insurance policies provide different levels of cover. You may be able to get flood damaged items replaced or get professional help to clean up. Review to your policy documents and check what you are covered for before you talk to your insurance company.

If you have different insurers for the structure of your home and your content, make sure you contact them both.

If you live in rented accommodation, the landlord will deal with the structure of your home. For content claims contact your own insurer.

Questions to ask your insurance company

Your insurance company will send a 'loss adjuster' (someone who will assess the damage) to your home. If flooding has caused damage to large parts of the country, you may have to wait for a loss adjuster to visit you.

When you phone the insurance company, make sure you find out:

• how long it will be before the loss adjuster is able to come
• whether they will organise and pay for cleaning and redecorating your home
• if they will help pay for repairs that will reduce potential flood damage and therefore reduce the costs if it happens again
• who will be the contact for your insurance claim at the company

Make a note of flood damage

You’ll need to record the flood damage so the loss adjuster can assess how much damage the flooding has done, so:

• mark the highest flood water level in each room with a permanent marker
• take photos or make a video of the flood damage
• write down all the flood damage to your home and belongings

Keep a record of everything related to your claim

You should keep a detailed record of all phone calls to your insurance company and to anyone cleaning up or repairing your home. This will help you manage any queries regarding your claim. Make a note of:

• who you spoke to
• the date and time you made or received the call
• what was agreed

It’s also important to:

• keep copies of all letters, emails and faxes sent or received
• keep all receipts of emergency pumping and repair work so you can claim back the money
• make sure you don’t throw anything away until the insurance company tells you to (except food that has gone off)

• What to do after a flood

• Download 'Flood risk and insurance information sheet' from the Environment Agency website (PDF, 100K) Opens new window

• Help with PDF files

Struggling to get insurance?

If you are finding it difficult to get insurance you could try:

• finding a broker who specialises in properties that are difficult to insure - check the British Insurance Brokers' Association
• contacting the Association of British Insurers (ABI) which can provide details of possible insurers
• contacting the National Flood Forum (NFF), an independent charity which offers support to those affected by flooding

• British Insurance Brokers' Association Opens new window

• Association of British Insurers Opens new window

• National Flood Forum Opens new window