High Risk Surface Flooding -FTB

Bleon

Hi

I’m just after advice/ peoples perspective on this issue please.

We have been going through a house purchase for the last 4 months and have just had the survey back and it’s noted as being in a severe risk for surface flooding. It’s taken us back abit as we are niave to this and didn’t think it would ever flag as being in a flood area - although we do fully understand the difference between surface flooding and normal flooding. It’s a new build estate and only 2 years old

Obviously we can do further tests but has anyone ever been in this position before and would it concern you ?

To add our situation it is a shared ownership so we don’t have to be concerned about buildings insurance however do worry about future re sale

Many thanks

AnotherJoe

Round near me there have been many large estates built on flood plain. Is this such an area?

Bleon

AnotherJoe wrote: »

Round near me there have been many large estates built on flood plain. Is this such an area?

No it’s not built on a flood plain, the surface water doesn’t go into the sewers so assuming just the area may struggle to cope?

The street next to us is supposedly fine despite the area being flat

00ec25

thousands of people have "been in this position before"

but not one of them knows anything about:
- the construction of your house: (airbricks?, door barriers? solid floor? suspended floor?)
- the gradient of the garden, and its porosity
- the gradient of the road,
- the standard of surface water drains in the area (you say water does not drain into the sewer - correct, surface water and foul water rarely mix that close to housing)
- the existence of open spaces that serve as catchments for run off
- the geography of the street , the street next door, the immediate area, - or the source of external run off

one could make unsubstantiated wild comments....
- 2 year old estate so likely built on land that had never been built on by our forebears for a very good reason
- house probably not designed with flooding in mind (raised levels, double or high level damp proof course)
- what drains there are won't be maintained and are probably already blocked

the next buyer may or may not be naive and may or may not have personal experience of flooding such that you get no offers or an "insulting" offer

in other words, stick your finger in the air and take a guess as to which way the wind is blowing and the water will come from ...

Cakeguts

Just recently there has been a lot of rain in a certain area. Most of the places that have been suggested by the local development plan as being suitable for housing were flooded. Lakes and streams appeared.



Anyone who buys on any of these sites in the future must expect their house to get flooded.



It sounds as if your newbuild could be on a similar site.


When you come to sell this is going to keep coming up. If it keeps coming up you are going to have to sell it cheap. This is not a problem as long as you buy it as cheaply as you may have to sell it.



So is it considerably cheaper than anything else in the area?

Bleon

I’m not after a prediction on whether this particular house is going to flood, of course nobody can answer that, just after advice of people who have been in this position. Have you gone through with the purchase or walked away as a result of this?

It’s my decision ultimately I know but I was just hoping to hear of some similar stories relating to surface water flooding

Bleon

Cakeguts wrote: »

Just recently there has been a lot of rain in a certain area. Most of the places that have been suggested by the local development plan as being suitable for housing were flooded. Lakes and streams appeared.



Anyone who buys on any of these sites in the future must expect their house to get flooded.



It sounds as if your newbuild could be on a similar site.


When you come to sell this is going to keep coming up. If it keeps coming up you are going to have to sell it cheap. This is not a problem as long as you buy it as cheaply as you may have to sell it.



So is it considerably cheaper than anything else in the area?

The site hasn’t experienced flooding to my knowledge previously , it’s a shared ownership so no offers can be made - you basically pay the asking price

I appreciate what you are saying though re it going to keep cropping up in the future, that is a concern

davidmcn

The reports submitted for the planning application would have included something about flooding, and will probably be available online - will probably be more detailed than whatever search you've got (and tell you about mitigation measures used by the developers).

Bleon

davidmcn wrote: »

The reports submitted for the planning application would have included something about flooding, and will probably be available online - will probably be more detailed than whatever search you've got (and tell you about mitigation measures used by the developers).

Ok great thank you, il look into this

lookstraightahead

No chance have you seen the devastation flooding causes?

ciderboy2009

My mother had exactly the same problem on a new estate in Bristol.

Apparently the surface water flooding probability maps are drawn up by the local council. The one for her estate had been done some years ago before any building work was done and drains put in.

The funny thing was that there was actually no history of the area ever having a problem with surface water flooding in the past. Apparently the person who drew up the map just assumed it was likely due to the fact that it was at the bottom of a hill!

It took a few years but she eventually got them to update the map based on the drainage installed.