Home insurance flood areas

David_Teagle

I am trying ot renew my home insurance as hte premium has been increased 25% because of flood risk. Reference ot flood risk area. Insurance won't listen to my location history. It seems rely on info relating ot large area ? post code. some of mine is near river but most including mine is on land several 100 feet above flood plain with no history of flooding. Has anyone challenged htis embargo?

wolftastic_2

You might find its the qulaity of flood mapping they use, its not cheap so the quality can vary. I would suggest you wont get very far at all either by using an online provider or price checker, or by using a telesales company, you probably need to speak to an undewriter or more likely a decent broker, who will be able to look at your case individually and make a common sense decision. Insurance companies dont have to give flood cover, its up to them.

mattymoo

It's not an embargo - it's just the way the system is unfortunately.
Most insurers rely on flood data that appears on the environment agency website. If that is painting your property "blue" for flood, you are going to be hit.

One firm that has departed from this is Aviva. They produced their own topographical maps and also recorded water flow on all rivers. Their data is therefore more accurate than the Environment Agencies. If you have a postcode where half the properties will be caught by floodwaters and half will not, Aviva are supposed to be able to rate them independantly of each other.

Unfortunately going with Aviva raises other issues - just search for Asprea on this board.

In the meantime, speak to a local insurance broker (not Swintons). They will know the geography and will have probably arranged policies for your neighbours and encountered this issue before. They will know who to speak to at the insurance company to get the loading removed or reduced.