Flood Risk Home Insurance: Cover for Homes in Flood Zones

What is flood risk home insurance?

Flood risk home insurance refers to buildings and contents cover arranged for properties located in areas known to be at higher risk of flooding, whether from rivers, surface water, or coastal sources. While many standard home insurance policies include flood cover as standard, insurers assess flood risk closely, and properties in higher-risk postcodes can face higher premiums, larger excesses specifically for flood claims, or in some cases a decline from mainstream insurers.

Specialist insurers and brokers who focus on flood-risk properties are often better placed to assess the actual risk to a specific property — taking into account flood defences, the property's elevation, and any previous flood history — rather than relying solely on broad postcode-level risk data.

Who needs this type of cover?

Homeowners in areas identified by the Environment Agency or equivalent bodies as being at medium or high risk of flooding are the most obvious group, but it's also relevant to anyone whose property has previously flooded, even if it's not in an officially designated high-risk zone. Properties near rivers, in low-lying areas, or in coastal locations are commonly affected.

It's worth checking your flood risk even if you've never experienced a flood, as risk maps are updated periodically and new developments or changing weather patterns can affect an area's classification over time. If you've had a standard insurer decline cover or apply a very high premium because of flood risk, it's a sign that approaching a specialist is likely to be more productive.

How Flood Re helps

Flood Re is a scheme set up jointly by the UK government and the insurance industry to help make flood cover more affordable for eligible homes at high flood risk. It works by allowing participating insurers to pass on the flood risk element of a policy to Flood Re in exchange for a set levy, which in turn allows the insurer to offer the customer a more affordable premium than they might otherwise be able to.

Flood Re is generally available for owner-occupied homes built before 2009, with some property types such as larger homes in the highest council tax bands and most leasehold or buy-to-let properties typically excluded from the scheme. It doesn't apply directly to businesses or new-build properties. If you're unsure whether your home is eligible, a specialist broker can check this as part of arranging your quote.

What's covered and what affects price

Flood risk policies generally aim to provide the same core protection as standard buildings and contents insurance, covering damage from flood water along with the usual perils like fire, storm and theft. The key differences tend to be in the excess applied specifically to flood claims, which can be higher than the standard excess, and the way the insurer has assessed and priced the specific flood risk to the property.

Pricing is influenced by the type of flood risk (river, surface water or coastal), the property's elevation relative to nearby water sources, the presence of flood defences in the area, and any history of flooding at the property itself. Flood resilience or resistance measures installed at the property — such as raised electrical sockets, non-return valves, or flood barriers — can sometimes help reduce risk and may be taken into account by some insurers.

• Flood defences and property elevation
• Previous flood claims or flood history at the property
• Type of flood risk: river, surface water or coastal
• Flood resilience measures installed at the property
• Flood Re eligibility for qualifying homes

Tips for homeowners in flood-risk areas

Check your property's flood risk using the Environment Agency's long-term flood risk service, and keep records of any flood defences or resilience measures you've installed, as these can be useful when seeking quotes. If your home has flooded before, keep documentation of the event, including any repairs carried out, as insurers will want to understand how the property has been reinstated.

When comparing cover, ask specifically about the flood excess, not just the overall policy excess, as these can differ. It's also worth asking whether the insurer offers any support with flood resilience advice or reinstatement, as some policies include access to this as part of the claims process.

How to get a quote

If you live in a flood-risk area and have found it difficult to get a competitive quote, a specialist broker can help assess your options, including Flood Re eligibility where relevant. Complete the short form on this page and an FCA-authorised specialist broker will be in touch, with no obligation to proceed.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get home insurance if I live in a flood-risk area?

In most cases, yes — specialist insurers and brokers regularly arrange cover for homes in flood-risk areas, even where mainstream insurers have declined or quoted very high premiums.

What is Flood Re?

Flood Re is a government and industry-backed scheme that helps make flood cover more affordable for eligible high flood-risk homes by allowing insurers to pass on the flood risk element of a policy in exchange for a levy.

Is every home eligible for Flood Re?

No, eligibility is generally limited to owner-occupied homes built before 2009, with some property types and tenures, such as new-builds and most leasehold or buy-to-let properties, typically excluded.

Will flood resilience measures reduce my premium?

Some insurers take flood resilience or resistance measures, such as non-return valves or raised sockets, into account when assessing risk, though this varies by provider.

What should I do if my home has flooded before?

Keep records of the flood event and any repairs or resilience improvements made, as this information helps insurers assess the current risk accurately when quoting.