Significant risk of surface water flooding but not other flooding?

Islaboo

Just got our searches back and the surface water risk is significant which covers about 8 properties either side and including the one im buying.

Other flooding including foul water is low risk.

Vendor says on info pack he has never been flooded.

I have tried googling who to contact at the council to ask about this risk but im not coming up with much.

I will try to ask the people either side of the property but getting there is difficult.

Is this a reason to pull out? (dont want to) will it badly affect insurance? How do i tell them only surface water is a risk?

Not really sure who to talk to about this and if its even something to worry about/?

Any wise words?
x

jbainbridge

We had this.

- start by getting a quote from your current insurer - moving to a bigger house ours went down! They had no flooding issues.
- do consider talking to the neighbours. We lived locally and even popped round when it was raining heavily (last summer!)
- I found someone in the council responsible for flooding ... our road wasn't a risk as far as they were concerned. Though to be honest they weren't much use.
- maybe speak to your surveyor. Ours couldn't see a problem.
- can you see why it might flood. One end of our road finishes in a dip ... so if the drains blocked I can see it might form a large pool. The property was shown on the edge of this area. I took comfort that other houses would go first!!
- will your lender lend? Ours did.

We bought the house.

Islaboo

Thanks for your answer.

The survey came back fine, no risk of flooding

The searches which we paid extra for flooding for (now wish we hadn't) came back as very low risk for foul water sewers , tidal etc flooding but a significant risk for surface water,.

Lenders were happy with survey, not sure if they see the searches but the mortgage is here ready to sign (not done yet)

No obvious reason why these few houses would be more at risk, the houses on the other side mirror image are the same and even more at risk.

Houses are all flat, no subsidence going on, no flooding I have ever seen there., garden is well tended not looking boggy or scraggly if it gets wet all the time. No moss growing. Im stumped.

JUst did a basic direct line quote which didnt ask me about flooding and it came out very cheap, £18 for house and contents with legal and accidental cover, wasnt expecting that I have to say. I assume to do a quote they would cross reference with the flood maps.

Im wondering if I should call an insurance company to get a proper quote but then I dont want to unnecessarily alert them to a problem that might not be!.

I cant believe this has come up, pretty much everything else was fine survey included!

Islaboo

p.s forgot to say we dont have an insurer at the moment as we are renting.

hazyjo

The insurers will have their own records they check. They won't ask you (as a new buyer), and you don't need to disclose it.

I wouldn't be worried about surface water flooding, it doesn't make it a 'flood risk' (IMO). Mine came back with it too, and, tbh, I thought about it for 5 mins, but certainly wouldn't have contemplated pulling out.

Good luck with your new home.

Jx
PS Keep a pair of wellies by the door