Previous research conducted for the trade association by Opinium found that 1 in 4 (25%) UK adults don’t know if their home is at risk of flooding and storm damage, and nearly half (45%) who had experienced flooding wish they’d taken more steps to prevent or mitigate the damage.
Last year, insurers paid out £1.2 billion for damage to people’s homes and businesses caused by extreme weather, with 46% of this paid in the second half of the year.
Regular maintenance can help people prevent damage and make their homes more resilient long term. If it is safe to do so, taking simple steps now can make a difference should a storm hit later in the year, such as:
Unblocking gutters and drains
Checking roof tiles
Removing overhanging or loose branches of nearby trees
Identifying leaks by checking for puddles of water, discolouration or a change of texture in walls or ceilings, musty smells or signs of mould or mildew, and fix these early
Servicing your boiler annually and taking steps to reduce the risk of frozen pipes
With wet weather expected later this year, the ABI has also encouraged people to:
To keep properties resilient to flooding, there are also a number of more substantial steps people can take if their property is at risk. For example, moving plug sockets higher up on walls, opting for tiles or waterproof flooring over carpet, and installing flood gates can all help to limit the damage from flooding and speed up the recovery process.
Chris Bose, Director of General Insurance and International Policy: While storms and flooding may be the last thing on people's minds after the heatwaves, the Met Office's warning of a wet and stormy season ahead is another reminder of how unpredictable and powerful our weather can be. Insurers are on hand to help people recover after extreme weather, but taking simple steps now can help reduce the risk of damage to homes and businesses.
This upcoming Bank Holiday weekend is the perfect opportunity to get ahead of the bad weather and make sure your property is prepared. We also call on government to ensure stronger climate resilience measures are built into all new homes, helping to reduce the risk of damage and better protect communities in the long term.
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