Buying a House with an obvious Flood Risk

JP08

Thanks Booksurr, that's exactly the type of response I was hoping for. Someone who's looked at the flooding from an "I know it's going to happen" as opposed to ignorance of the risk or hoping it never materialises. And has a plan B accordingly.

Oh - and has bought a house constructed in a manner that means flooding is less of an issue to start with.

I've also noted your (and StumpyPumpys) points in an earlier comments about not being able to access the property even if you have protected it. An important downside. Similar issues will occur with utilities / power. Further note to self ... backup power.

haf1

I second the "my house doesn't flood but I need to get to work by boat" problem. My house is just outside (a few yards up the hill) the flood zone, but when most of the town got flooded in December 2015, that included roads, rail, supermarkets, pubs ... and during a recent flood alert a few weeks ago, due to surface flooding on the rails, the train simply stopped a few stops before ours, and that was that.

Backup power is certainly doable, but what about getting to work when your area floods again, getting home in time to put up the flood barrier, or even going on holiday.

I still agree that the property sounds like a brilliant idea, flagstone floors, squirrels and all, but with the significant inconvenience of living there and the great uncertainty of possibly not being able to sell later on, I would keep looking for a similar place with no danger of flooding.

Marvel1

The thread title alone was enough for me to say I wouldn't even bother.

lincroft1710 wrote: »

Another ex civil servant and another who has known people affected by floods (relatives) whose repaired house is proving difficult to sell despite nearby flood protection works having been carried out.

Does make me wonder then why they are selling, are they not confident in the flood protection themselves?


Of course they may be legit reasons, but this would make me wonder.

agrinnall

JP08 wrote: »

The map does work - it zooms in where the mouse pointer is pointing - and you can "left click and drag" like in Google Maps ...

Well tell us where to put the pointer and it might be of some use, as it is I could pick anywhere in the UK and all that's going to tell me is the flooding situation there, the chances that it will relate to the area you are talking about are very small.

Anyway, I'm said it 3 times now, so I'm out.

lincroft1710

cjdavies wrote: »

Does make me wonder then why they are selling, are they not confident in the flood protection themselves?


Of course they may be legit reasons, but this would make me wonder.

Owner died, executor's sale

StumpyPumpy

booksurr wrote: »

The house is cavity wall construction but does not have a suspended wood floor therefore there are no sub DPC air bricks. The pointing is maintained in excellent condition. There are no floor to ceiling windows, therefore the only entry point for water that is not at least 3 feet deep is the doors.

I'm in no way criticising your flood defences, you obviously know your own house, but if you have a downstairs toilet then that can be another point of entry due to backflow from overloaded sewers. Some of my friends' neighbours were flooded this way and had to remove flood doors to let the "water" out!

There are solutions like backflow valves and toilet bungs or just cramming a sandbag into the pan, but my friends saw a video of it happening and said "It looked just like the Trevi fountain. Only in a bathroom. With brown water. And shredded toilet paper."

SP

booksurr

StumpyPumpy wrote: »

I'm in no way criticising your flood defences, you obviously know your own house,

indeed I do! That property does not have a downstairs toilet so, although a very valid observation for other readers benefit, it is irrelevant in my case.

You are wise to counsel caution with respect to a toilet pan, since mere height above ground is not the deciding factor in reverse flow scenarios. It is as you say the possibility of back pressure enabling the column of water to be lifted above mean flood height which can cause "results"

all kitchen appliances discharge to an open gully drain so backflow is not possible on them either before you mention that possibility as the entry point of the pipe to the house is at my 3 ft ain't gonna happen floodline