Six out of 10 people admit to never checking their flood risk, it has been revealed, which can be dangerous not just from a safety perspective but also cost.
Research from YouGov commissioned by Landmark Information Group identified that people living in London, the North West and Scotland are least likely to research their flood risk.
The survey tested more than 2,000 adults in the UK about whether they checked their flood risk before moving into their current home and whether they checked afterwards.
For self builders and renovators, researching and reducing the risk of flooding is essential if you are building in a flood zone, and the pertinence of ensuring your house is protected was emphasised by Landmark’s findings that 88% believe their property is not in an area considered ‘at risk’ of flooding, yet 62% have not checked whether this is the case or not.
Chris Loaring, managing director at Landmark Legal, said: “According to the Environment Agency, over five million properties are at risk of flooding – of which 2.4 million properties are at risk from the sea or rivers, and a larger share of 2.8 million properties are at risk of surface water flooding, which isn’t always visibly apparent.”
What Can You Do?
One important aspect of a flood defence strategy is to establish a flood plan to enact should a flood occur. Only 6% of respondents said they had such a plan, while more than one-third admitted to not having a plan nor knowing what to do in the event of a flood.
It pays to be aware whether it is your responsibility to protect your home against flooding, or if this falls within the jurisdiction of your local council or the Environment Agency.
Only 23% of respondents checked their flood risk before moving into a new home, with 12% confirming they checked afterwards. The Welsh were the most diligent at this, with 26% examining their risk before moving, and a further 20% researching the risk afterwards.
Earlier this month the Environment Agency issued more than 100 flood alerts, mostly in Yorkshire, following a month’s worth of rain falling in just hours across the UK.