Flood Risk Home Insurance Comparison
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Insurance for homes at risk of flooding: the short answer
Home insurance for a flood-prone property is buildings and contents cover for a home with a higher than usual chance of flooding. You buy it like normal home cover, and many homes built before 2009 can benefit from the Flood Re scheme behind the scenes.
Which flood situation is yours?
Your history with water shapes the questions insurers ask. Find your row below.
| Your situation | What insurers want to know | Helpful next step |
|---|---|---|
| In a mapped flood zone, never flooded | Postcode risk and any resilience features | Check the official flood map |
| Flooded before and claimed | Date, cost and what was repaired | Ask about resilience work |
| Built in or after 2009 | Build standards and site drainage | Compare several quotes, as Flood Re does not apply |
| Surface water risk only | Local drainage and past street flooding | Check the surface water layer |
| Flood risk and subsidence | Both histories in full | Subsidence home insurance |
How Flood Re helps homes at high flood risk
Flood Re is a scheme that lets insurers pass on the flood part of a home policy, which helps keep cover available. You still buy home insurance the usual way and never deal with Flood Re directly.
According to Flood Re, it charges the insurer a fixed premium based on your council tax band. It also applies a standard £250 excess to each policy it takes on.
Who qualifies for Flood Re
- Homes built before 1 January 2009, or rebuilt after demolition of a pre-2009 home
- Private homes in council tax bands A to H, or the equivalent
- Policies held by individuals, insured individually
- Buildings with up to three homes in them
- Homes anywhere in the UK, but not the Isle of Man or Channel Islands
Full details are in Flood Re’s eligibility criteria.
Check your flood risk before you compare home flood insurance
Each UK nation has an official map. Checking first helps you answer the form correctly.
- England: the GOV.UK long-term flood risk service covers rivers and the sea, surface water, reservoirs and groundwater.
- Wales: the Natural Resources Wales flood risk map shows risk from rivers, the sea, surface water and small watercourses, and reservoirs.
- Scotland: SEPA flood maps show areas likely to flood from rivers, the sea and surface water.
- Northern Ireland: Flood Maps NI from the Department for Infrastructure shows flood hazard information.
Surface water is easy to overlook. Flood Re says over 4.6 million properties in England are at risk of surface water flooding, more than the 2.7 million at risk from rivers and the sea.
Flood cover: what’s usually in and out
| Usually covered | Often limited or excluded |
|---|---|
| Flood damage to the structure, on buildings cover | Gradual seepage or rising damp |
| Damaged belongings, on contents cover | Gardens, fences and gates |
| Drying out and cleaning | Damage when the home has been empty too long |
| Somewhere to stay while repairs happen | Damage from a flood before the policy started |
Policies vary, so read the flood excess and the limits on alternative accommodation.
Ways to cut flood damage, and what insurers may notice
Resilience work reduces the damage a flood can do, and some insurers ask about it. Flood Re’s Build Back Better case studies describe insurers funding flood doors, automatic air bricks and non-return valves after a claim.
- Sign up for free flood warnings if you live in England
- Fit flood doors or removable barriers
- Add non-return valves to drains
- Move sockets and the boiler higher up the wall
- Keep a flood plan and a list of valuables
What to have ready for a flood insurance quote
- Year the house was built
- Dates and costs of any past flood claims
- Details of resilience work and certificates
- Your council tax band
- Whether anyone lives there full time
Comparing flood risk cover with Tiger.co.uk
Tiger.co.uk shows you multiple flood risk quotes from one short form, so you can see how prices and flood excesses differ. Insurers rate flood risk in their own ways, which is why the spread can be wide.
Some quotes may be higher than you expect, which is why comparing matters. Tigers are strong swimmers, but your home needs a policy. For other property types, visit the non-standard home insurance hub. You can also add home emergency cover for sudden plumbing problems.
Know your flood map result and council tax band? Compare flood risk home insurance on Tiger.co.uk and check the flood excess on every quote.
Can I get home insurance in a flood risk area?
Yes, in most cases. Many insurers quote for homes in flood risk areas, and homes built before 1 January 2009 may be helped by the Flood Re scheme. Compare several quotes, as prices can vary a lot.
How do I find out if my home is at risk of flooding?
Use the official map for your nation. In England, use the GOV.UK long-term flood risk service. In Wales, use the Natural Resources Wales Flood Risk Assessment Wales map. Scotland has SEPA flood maps, and Northern Ireland has Flood Maps NI from the Department for Infrastructure.
Does Flood Re cover new build homes?
No. Flood Re only covers homes built before 1 January 2009. A home built before then and later demolished and rebuilt is still eligible, according to Flood Re.
Can I get flood cover for a holiday home or buy to let?
Possibly. Flood Re lists holiday and second homes, and some buy to let properties, as eligible if they meet its other rules. Check with the insurer when you compare.
Do I need separate flood insurance?
Usually not. Flood is normally one of the insured events on a buildings or contents policy. Check the wording, the flood excess and any exclusions before you buy.
Can I get flood warnings for surface water?
Not through the Environment Agency service in England. GOV.UK says its free warnings cover rivers, the sea and groundwater, but not surface water or flash flooding.
Fact-checked by Ian Wilson, Managing Director at Tiger.co.uk. 20+ years in price comparison; MEng, Queen’s University Belfast.
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