Does home insurance cover flooding?

Key points

• Most standard home insurance policies include cover for water damage from flooding

• Buildings insurance covers the structure of your home and contents insurance covers Items within the home

• The Flood Re scheme was launched to make insurance more accessible for homes in high-risk flood areas

• Preparation is key and you can sign up for free flood alerts

Does insurance cover flooding?

If your home is flooded because of heavy rain or overflowing rivers the damage may be widespread but your home insurer can help. 

Many standard home insurance policies include cover for flood damage, subject to specific terms, exclusions, and excesses.

Each insurer may vary on what is and isn’t covered, so always call your provider straight away if you’re affected.

At John Lewis Money, homes are protected against loss or damage because of a flood. If you have buildings cover, the structure of your property is included, and if you have contents cover, your belongings are protected.  

It’s important to always check the details though so you know exactly where you stand, as there’s usually no cover provided if the problem has been caused by a gradual rise in the water table or groundwater levels, for example…

The policy will often protect your main home, but areas including drives, patios, fences or garden ponds can be excluded (your policy documents should include a list of what is and isn’t covered). 

How do I know if I am in a flood risk area? 

You can check if a property is in a flood risk area through the flood map. There are different maps depending on where you live in the UK:

• England

• Wales

• Scotland

• Northern Ireland

What is Flood Re?  

Flood Re is a government-backed scheme which aims to make insurance more affordable and accessible for eligible homes where there is a high risk of flooding.

It is managed, funded and owned by insurers and it allows them to re-insure themselves for when flooding occurs and they have to pay out for repairs or to replace damaged homes and contents.

If you live in a home built before January 1st 2009 which has a council tax band between A and H you may be eligible for Flood Re. 

The scheme works behind the scenes so when you buy insurance it’s already factored into the price if you are eligible for it. It’s not available for everyone, businesses, commercial properties and housing association properties are excluded, for example.

What to do if there is a flood?

If your home has been flooded the first thing to do is to make sure everyone is safe, especially if the water levels are still rising. This could be moving to a higher level of the home, or leaving the property altogether. If safe to do so, turn off the electricity, gas, and water main supplies.

You should then call your home insurance provider as they will be able to tell you what to do next, and they can help with arranging repairs or in the worst-case scenario temporary accommodation if you can’t stay in your home.

Opening windows and doors will reduce humidity too, and be careful not to start throwing damaged items out - as your insurer may want to inspect these to assess the overall damage of the flood.  

How can you protect your home from flooding? 

One of the ways to protect your home from flooding is to be as prepared as possible. 

You can sign up to receive flood warnings for free, if you’re in England, Wales or Scotland. It’s a good idea to put together a waterproof bag with important documents in it, such as passports or financial documents, which you can easily find and move if a flood occurs. 

If you know your home is at risk of a flood, you could pack a bag for each person who lives there with items like clothes, toiletries and any medication. You can also move furniture or your contents to a different level of the home, although this isn’t always possible - especially as flooding can happen very quickly.

How can I get a home insurance quote with John Lewis Money?

You can get a quote for home insurance with John Lewis Money to cover your home and your belongings.

Not only are our Gold, Silver and Specialist home insurance policies five-star rated by Defaqto, but our different levels of cover can be tailored to suit your property.

Plus, our Specialist Home Insurance, brought to you by Covea Insurance, is specifically designed for high-value contents & homes, or unique homes.

This article is for promotional or information purposes only. You must not rely on it as advice.