Flood-proofing your property: what you need to know

A property is a home for some and an investment for others. Either way, as our weather becomes more extreme and unpredictable, owners will need to consider how they look after their purchase.

Publication date: 3 August 2024
Reading time: Three minutes

The Environment Agency Opens in a new window says that 1 in 6 homes is at risk of flooding and that this number will double in a generation. In 2024, we’ve already seen ‘once every 50 years’ high water levels become ‘once every 9.4 years’ water levels Opens in a new window in parts of the UK.

The issue is further compounded by other factors at play, such as subsidence. In many parts of the world, cities are sinking considerably faster than water levels are rising Opens in a new window, and in London alone, over 40% of the city is expected to suffer from subsidence by 2030 Opens in a new window. All of these mean our homes and businesses could be more likely to flood, sooner than many might realise.

With the UK’s “FloodRE” home insurance scheme due to be dissolved in 2039 Opens in a new window, it’s more important than ever to consider flood protection, even if you’re not currently at risk. Although it’s not possible to totally flood-proof, there are different ways you can reduce the dangers. We’ve looked at some preventative measures which will help keep your property as water-tight as possible.

What’s your flood risk?

First, be sure to check your property’s existing risk. Flood risk is the combination of the likelihood of an area flooding Opens in a new window and the consequences if it happens.

For some, this will be an easy question to answer, while for others, the UK government’s Flood Risk Register Opens in a new window sets out an area’s long-term flood risk. According to the Association of British Insurers, having this information to hand helps when you’re buying insurance. Given the change in climate, risks will likely increase over time so always check.

Preventative measures

You can make practical changes to both stop or slow down water ingress, plus protect the interior should the worst happen.

If you’re planning to self-build your home Opens in a new window, first take appropriate advice from a reputable organisation such as the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Opens in a new window (RICS) or Royal Institute of British Architects Opens in a new window (RIBA). There are also useful resources on the Local Government Association’s website, including a searchable database of sustainability and climate change case studies, such as this Net Zero Carbon Toolkit Opens in a new window!

If you own a period property be sure to take specialist advice before you carry out any flood-proofing work. Often, inappropriate remedial work after flooding causes more harm than the flood itself. Good places to get support are Historic England and The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings Opens in a new window.

First, let’s look at some of the ways you can prevent the water from getting in.

Property Flood Resilience measures (PFRs)

Flood Barriers

These can be easily fitted across doorways or gateways where and when there is a risk of water access. They can be used when there is an increased risk of flooding, and removed again once the risk has passed.

Flood gates

A specially-designed garden gate which will create a water resistant seal when closed, stopping water from getting closer to the property.

Flood doors and windows

These automatically create a water-resistant seal when closed. Unlike flood barriers, they do not have to be installed and uninstalled as the flood risk changes. You may also wish to raise thresholds when entering the property, to create an additional permanent barrier.

Self-closing airbricks

Most external walls contain airbricks to aid ventilation.

Swapping these for self-closing bricks will help minimise the risk of flood water getting into the property by this route.

Repointing outside walls

Replacing the mortar between the brickwork on older properties is not only an aesthetic improvement, it helps build up the exterior walls’ resistance to floodwater.

Non-return valves

Wastewater pipes are another way for flood water to enter properties. Fitting non-return valves so that wastewater can flow out, but flood water cannot enter, will reduce this risk. Non-return valves can also be fitted to the foul sewer, preventing sewage backing up through the toilet. If a non-return valve can’t be fitted, a bung can be used to block the toilet.

Source: BeFloodReady.uk

Embrace nature

A range of landscaping measures can be undertaken to redirect water pathways, or increase the carrying capacity of your garden Opens in a new window. It is also possible that similar landscaping measures can also be taken up on a slightly bigger scale to enhance flood resilience of your neighbourhood/ community.

Interior changes

If the worst happens and floodwater gets into your property, there are ways you can minimise the disruption as well as the amount of time and effort it will take to return the property to normal.

You may choose to have a concrete floor rather than fit carpets.

Fixing electrical sockets higher off the floor, and installing appliances or shelving above a likely flood level will help. Also consider separating electrics for the ground floor from other floors so power can be turned off in isolation.

Finally, if you have a basement, you may consider tanking it to prevent ingress, or fitting a pump, however these measures may be cost prohibitive.

The above measures can not only reduce the risk of flooding in your property but can also reduce damage and speed up recovery after a flood.

If you’re thinking of making such changes or wondering how to make your property more sustainable in general, speak to us about how we can help you adapt and reduce the impact of climate change Opens in a new window.