Context
To mark UK Flood Action Week (13 – 19 October), the ABI has published its updated floods guide, outlining insurers’ support at every stage of recovery process to give consumers the confidence and clarity they need when confronting the aftermath of flooding. The guide also explains how homes could be made more flood resilient whilst being repaired through the Build Back Better scheme.
Key points to note and next actions
Flooding remains one of the most destructive natural disasters in the UK, affecting thousands of homes and businesses each year. In the first half of this year alone, claims for weather-related damage to people’s homes and possessions reached £424 million. The Environment Agency estimates that 6.3 million properties in England lie in areas at risk of flooding however, awareness remains low as ABI research shows that one in four homeowners are unaware if their home is at risk of flood damage.
The ABI’s Responding to Floods guide delivers straightforward insurance advice and breaks down the recovery process for homeowners into six key steps:
- Start your claim. Contact your insurer to begin the process and access available support.
- Assess damage & arrange accommodation. A loss adjustor will evaluate your home and, depending on cover, help secure temporary housing if needed.
- Clean-up begins. A loss adjuster will organise professional cleaning and strip-out. This may include an offer of Build Back Better up to a limit of £10,000 to make a home more resilient, and may include raised electrical sockets, water resistant plaster and flood doors.
- Drying your home. A specialist company will disinfect and dry the property.
- Repair & rebuild. Your insurer will appoint a builder or offer a cash settlement for repairs.
- Return home. Your insurer will support your move back once your home is safe and restored.