Why insurers ask about previous flooding
If you have ever filled in a home insurance form, you will know the flood question arrives early and stares back at you.
Insurers ask because past flooding is one of the strongest indicators of future risk. It does not automatically rule out cover, but it does shape how the policy is built.
What counts as a previous flood
Flooding usually means water entering the property from outside, not a burst pipe or leaking appliance.
This can include river flooding, surface water after heavy rain, groundwater rising through floors, or coastal flooding from tidal surge.
How far back insurers look
Most insurers ask whether the property has flooded within a set period, often five or ten years.
Some will still ask about older events, especially if the location is known to be at higher risk. Dates and details matter.
What information you will usually be asked for
Insurers tend to move quickly from yes or no questions to specifics.
- The date of the flooding
- The source of the water
- The depth reached inside the property
- Whether a claim was made
- What repairs or improvements followed
Vague answers slow things down. Clear facts help more than optimistic descriptions.
Flood Re and how it fits in
In the UK, many homes with a flood history fall under the Flood Re scheme.
Flood Re allows insurers to offer flood cover at capped prices for eligible properties, while the insurer continues to handle the rest of the policy in the usual way.
When Flood Re may not apply
Not every property qualifies.
- Homes built after a certain cut-off date
- Some buy-to-let or commercial uses
- Properties converted into multiple units
In these cases, insurers rely entirely on their own underwriting rules.
How premiums and excesses are affected
A previous flood often leads to higher premiums or a separate flood excess.
The excess for flood claims can be significantly higher than for fire or theft. This is one of the first places insurers manage risk.
Cover limits and exclusions to watch for
Some policies include flood cover but cap how much can be claimed for certain items.
- Lower limits for contents stored at ground level
- Restrictions on outbuildings or garages
- Conditions around future flood defences
Improvements insurers like to see
Evidence of risk reduction can influence underwriting decisions.
This might include raised electrical points, flood doors, non-return valves, or changes made as part of previous repairs.
Changing insurers after a flood
Switching providers after a flood claim is possible, but disclosure is critical.
Failure to declare past flooding is one of the most common reasons claims fail later, even when the new claim is unrelated.
Mortgage lenders and insurance requirements
Lenders usually require continuous buildings insurance, including flood where it is considered a material risk.
If insurance is restricted or withdrawn, this can become a lending issue as well as an insurance one.
Contents insurance after flooding
Contents cover is often easier to arrange than buildings cover, but flood exclusions or high excesses are common.
Insurers may focus on where items are stored and whether replacements were already funded by a previous claim.
Accuracy matters more than optimism
There is a strong temptation to underplay an old flood event, especially if it felt minor at the time.
Insurers cross-check flood data using mapping, historical claims and postcode modelling. Straight answers tend to lead to fewer problems later.