Flood Risk Checker — Check Any UK Address

Why Check Flood Risk?

Flooding is one of the most common and costly natural hazards in the UK. Around 5.2 million properties in England are at risk of flooding. Knowing the flood risk before you buy can save you from unexpected insurance costs, property damage and the stress of dealing with a flood.

Types of Flood Risk

• River (fluvial) flooding: Caused when rivers burst their banks after heavy rain. This is the most well-known type of flooding.
• Sea (tidal/coastal) flooding: Caused by high tides, storm surges or a combination of both. Particularly relevant for coastal properties.
• Surface water (pluvial) flooding: Caused when heavy rainfall overwhelms drainage systems. This can affect properties far from any river or coast.
• Groundwater flooding: Occurs when the water table rises above ground level. Most common in chalk and limestone areas.
• Reservoir flooding: The risk of flooding if a reservoir were to fail. This is extremely rare but consequences can be severe.

How Flood Risk Affects Property

Flood risk can significantly impact a property purchase in several ways:

• Insurance costs: Properties in high flood risk areas may face significantly higher buildings insurance premiums. The Flood Re scheme helps make insurance available and affordable for most homes built before 2009.
• Mortgage availability: Some lenders are cautious about high flood risk properties, though most will still lend if insurance is available.
• Property value: Flood risk can reduce property values, though the impact varies by area and flood history.
• Conveyancing searches: Your solicitor will order an environmental search that includes flood risk data as part of the buying process.

What the Risk Levels Mean

• Very low: Less than 1 in 1,000 (0.1%) chance of flooding in any year.
• Low: Between 1 in 1,000 (0.1%) and 1 in 100 (1%) chance each year.
• Medium: Between 1 in 100 (1%) and 1 in 30 (3.3%) chance each year.
• High: Greater than 1 in 30 (3.3%) chance of flooding each year.