A house on a hill nr watercourse and insurance

winniethewitch

My house is almost at the top of a hill. At the bottom is River Douglas but it is no wider than a canal which is alongside it. It would take the rains of noah to flood it. How do I prove its too high to flood? The insurance is through the roof this year. Ive had it since 1986 & previous owner from new 1965. Other houses in the row much older and none have flooded. The only homes to flood are new ones built under the bridge on the actual river bank and these did not flood more than 2 feet about 30yrs ago.

sheramber

My local community group hd this problem.

The hall was sat on a hill  well above and several hundred meters from the river that had its own flood pain, then the flood would have to reach the  higher ground and spread across to the road before getting anywhere near the  hill that the hall sat on. Then it had to breach the height of the hill.

  The insurance company covered the hall for £1million  but would not cover a £4000 projection system due to potential flooding.

Apparently, they only went by the straight line distance from the river to the  property, not taking into account  the rise in the ground level.

Another company were willing to cover it.

TELLIT01

The problem is likely caused by the way 'flood risk maps' are marked.  It may be that somewhere in the postcode or group of postcodes has flooded recently.  I can only suggest speaking to your insurer and asking what the basis for the increase is, and any appeal process.

DullGreyGuy

winniethewitch said:

My house is almost at the top of a hill. At the bottom is River Douglas but it is no wider than a canal which is alongside it. It would take the rains of noah to flood it. How do I prove its too high to flood? The insurance is through the roof this year. Ive had it since 1986 & previous owner from new 1965. Other houses in the row much older and none have flooded. The only homes to flood are new ones built under the bridge on the actual river bank and these did not flood more than 2 feet about 30yrs ago.

Shop around, different insurers use different software to measure flood risk and so will get different results. Similarly some insurers buy from Flood Re and so flood risk is a fixed price based on the council tax band the property is in whereas as others dont so will price the flood element themselves. 

On-the-coast

Following this thread with interest.  My parents' house insurance just went from £600pa to £3000 pa because they are now deemed to be in a flood plain.  They've lived in the same house for 60 years and not experienced a flood yet.   Yes they are also very near a river, but on elevated ground.
TBH they'd be happy to "self insure" for the flood risks if that was a thing.  They have about 3.5 weeks to find a better quote.

dunstonh

The insurance is through the roof this year. 

What is your definition of "through the roof"?
Are you sure the increase is down to flood risk?

lots of people have seen big increases because the insurer in question doesnt want them any more.   How are alternative companies pricing?