Is your home purchase blighted by flood risk?

Clacton on Sea cash injection

Did you know that one in six homes in Britain is at risk of flooding? Contrary to popular belief, these aren’t just properties close to rivers or by the sea; over 3 million homes are at risk from flooding because of surface water, blocked drains or overflowing sewers.

If you are looking to buy residential property, it’s a good idea to establish the flood risk at an early stage, so you can take the right decision on whether to proceed with the purchase or simply walk away. Not only can flooding, if it happens, affect your enjoyment of the new home and put your personal possessions at risk, you also need to consider the impact on your home insurance, not to mention the ability to obtain a mortgage for the purchase in the first place.

Also take into account that a flood risk property may be difficult to sell, and while you may be fine with your dream cottage having an unpredictable stream at the bottom of the garden, a history of flooding, high insurance premiums and restricted mortgage opportunities could deter prospective buyers in the future.

How can you find out about the flood risk?

If you’ve found your dream home, your first port of call should be the seller or estate agent to find out if any part of the building has ever flooded. However, susceptibility to flooding is not always apparent and your seller may only have a limited knowledge of the property, especially if they haven’t lived there long.

Once your offer is accepted, there are several ways you can find about the property’s flooding history.

  • Pre-contract enquiries and searches

Your conveyancer will ask the seller about flooding in their standard pre-contract enquiries and you could be liable for compensation if the seller knowingly gives false information. Make sure that the formal conveyancing papers contain all the necessary answers, and that these have been checked by your lawyer.

Your solicitor will carry out a number of searches on the property as part of the purchasing process. Environmental searches will include maps published by the Environment Agency to show generic information about local flood risks from watercourses and surface water, while the Land Registry also gives a flood risk indicator.

It can be a huge disappointment to discover that your prospective new home is in a high flood risk area. While your solicitor won’t be able to change the facts, he can however ensure that all the right searches and enquiries are obtained, while liaising with your building surveyor, putting you in the best possible situation to make the right decision.

  • Building Surveys

While standard searches can give a good general indication of the likely flood risk in your area, the advice given is not building specific, so further investigation may be required to satisfy all concerned parties. Your lender’s mortgage valuation may also raise concerns if a risk of flooding is detected.

For your own peace of mind, it is recommended that you have a professional building survey carried out by a RICS regulated surveyor, ideally someone who can delve deep to compile a specialist flood survey, or has the right experience and equipment to survey waterside properties.

Not only can an in-depth home survey give you a better understanding of the possible impact of flooding on your new home, it can also give useful advice on how to physically reduce the risk of flooding.

How will your home insurance by affected?

While a heightened risk of flooding need not necessarily stop you from proceeding with the purchase of the home of your dreams, it’s prudent to know the risks involved. One of the major considerations when you’re thinking of buying a home in a flood risk area is whether you’ll be able to get buildings insurance and the type of cover available to you.

If you’re buying the building with a mortgage, your lender will insist on adequate buildings insurance to commence from exchange of contracts to cover their risk. You can take out home insurance to cover you for any damage caused by floods, but reasonably priced insurance cover may be hard to come by if the property has been identified as being at risk. Some research will be needed to find the best deal.

You may be able to take advantage of Flood Re, the government backed scheme that makes it easier for home owners with high flood risk properties to obtain insurance cover on reasonable terms. Do check your assumptions that you can get cover before you proceed with the property purchase – not all types of property are eligible.

Although it’s not yet standard practice for insurance companies to take account of flood resilience measures, it is something the industry will be moving towards. While this should eventually translate into savings for homeowners who have taken the right precautions, for now it’s up to you to consider your options before you commit to the property.

EAN Content

Content shared by this account is either news shared free by third parties or sponsored (paid for) content from third parties. Please be advised that links to third party websites are not endorsed by Estate Agent Networking - Please do your own research before committing to any third party business promoted on our website. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

You May Also Enjoy

small house bird box
Breaking News

UK First Time Buyers better off than many other global nations

Is it really that bad being a first-time buyer? UK better off than many other global nations when it comes to affordability The latest market analysis from Yopa, the full-service estate agents, reveals that first-time buyers (FTBs) in the UK may be paying 63% more to get a foot on the property ladder than they…
Read More
new build homes colchester essex
Breaking News

Building Safety Regulator Reform

The Government has announced reforms to the Building Safety Regulator, including leadership, process and investment. The changes are hoped to deliver 1.5 million homes. The reforms pave the way for creation of a single construction safety regulator, as recommended by the Grenfell Tower enquiry. David Smith, property litigation partner at London law firm Spector Constant…
Read More
Breaking News

New anti-money laundering rules now in effect: what landlords need to know

New anti-money laundering (AML) rules came into effect this month, marking a significant change for landlords and the lettings industry as a whole. The new rules mean financial sanctions checks are now required for all lettings, regardless of how much rent is charged. Here, Steve Bond, managing director of residential lettings for Beresfords, explains what…
Read More
Breaking News

What landlords need to know about the upcoming Renters Rights Bill

The government’s long-awaited Renters Rights Bill is one of the most significant overhauls of the private rental sector in decades. While it has not yet received royal assent, the legislation is expected to come into effect late this year, or early in 2026. With the bill moving closer to becoming law, Steven Bond, managing director…
Read More
Breaking News

Mortgage approvals bounce back in May

The latest figures show that: – Mortgage approvals on house purchases for May sat at 63,032 up 3.9% from 60,656 in April. The monthly increase seen in May marks the end of four months of previous decline, with approval levels having fallen each month since January of this year. Approvals are also 2.5% higher than…
Read More
Breaking News

Money and Credit – May 2025

Key points: Net borrowing of mortgage debt by individuals increased by £2.8 billion to £2.1 billion in May, following a large decrease in net borrowing of £13.8 billion to -£0.8 billion in April. Net mortgage approvals for house purchases increased by 2,400 to 63,000 in May. Approvals for remortgaging also increased by 6,200 to 41,500…
Read More