Our flood risk map shows you which regions are the most susceptible to flood damage. While some areas have seen a decrease in flood risk, in many parts of the England, the threat of flooding is creeping up.
Wondering why more homes are at risk? Rising sea levels and wetter winters are the main culprits, leading to more coastal and river flooding. Plus, lots of new homes are being built in flood-prone areas.
So, let’s crunch some numbers. According to the Environment Agency, 6.3 million properties in England are in areas at risk of flooding. Of those, 122,000 are at high risk.
The latest prediction? Experts say that 1 in 4 properties could be in flood-prone areas by 2050. And if we’re talking high-risk, the most recent estimate is 637,600 properties by 2069.
Yes, living in an area with a high flood risk can affect your home insurance.
Typically, the higher the likelihood of flooding, the more pricey your premium will be. And, in some cases, insurers can refuse to cover for flood damage if they think the risk is too significant.
But, there are schemes in place to make insurance more affordable for homeowners. If you live in a flood-prone area, it’s worth checking whether you qualify for the Flood Re scheme.
When you’re choosing your policy, checking the specific terms is crucial. Ensuring that flood protection is included will give you peace of mind and save you from any nasty surprises when you go to claim.
Thinking about your house getting flooded isn’t exactly fun. But, having a plan of action in place will help ease the panic if it happens. We asked our home insurance expert Matt Harwood for his top tips:
Elevate valuables – Move expensive or important items to higher ground.
Seal your property – Use sandbags or barriers to keep water out.
Check your insurance policy – Make sure your home insurance covers flood damage.
Have a power backup plan – 54% of people who experienced a power cut during a flood said it lasted longer than a day.
Covering the cost of flood damage comes with a hefty price tag. Between 2020 and 2024, flood claims in England totalled almost £31m, peaking at just over £11m in 2024.
Want to know the specifics? As it stands, the average repair cost for flood victims is £849 - with 23% of claims tipping over the £1,000 mark. And, most commonly, it’s carpets and grass (41%) that take the biggest hit.
Flooding can impact the cost of your future premiums, too. On average, home insurance costs £323* less for houses that have never been flooded, compared to those that have been flooded in the past 10 years.
*Average difference in cost of combined buildings and contents home insurance for homes with no history of flooding compared to those with a history of flooding. Based on Confused.com data, December 2025 - March 2026
No, not all home insurance policies will cover flood damage. It’s all down to the specific provider and how at-risk your home is.
However, many insurers offer specialised flood insurance. And, in some cases, you can choose a flood cover add-on to your existing policy.
Whichever option you go for, it's important to review your policy documents to make sure you're covered. If in doubt, speak to your insurer and double check.
There are a few options for getting financial help if your home is flooded. You may be able to get support from the local council or the National Emergencies Trust. Or, you can reach out to other organisations or charities.
You might also want to check your eligibility for the Flood Re scheme, as this can help bring down the cost of your home insurance.
Calculate the value of your contents with our handy contents calculator.
Knowing your home's rebuild cost can help give you more accurate home insurance costs. Here's how you use a rebuild cost calculator and work it out yourself.
*Confused.com issued a Freedom of Information request in October 2024 to the Environment Agency (England) requesting the total number of properties at ‘high risk’ of flooding in 2018 and 2023 to calculate the rise in properties at risk. This was provided by parliamentary constituencies.
All research based on a survey issued by One Poll on behalf of Confused.com, of UK 2,000 homeowners and renters. This was conducted between 31 December 2024 and 2 January 2025.
Flooding claims based on Confused.com home insurance data between January 2018 and November 2024. This includes the number of policies purchased where a claim had been made for flooding damages for both buildings and contents insurance, and the total value.
*Information about our flood risk tool:
The number of properties at high risk of flooding was provided by the Environment Agency in England, for the years 2018 and 2023, broken down by parliamentary constituency. Constituencies provided within this tool are based on data as of July, alongside postcodes within these areas as of May 2024. A number of constituencies have changed boundaries between 2023 and 2024, in which case the data has been reassigned to the replacement constituency. Where constituencies have been split into a number of new constituencies, the data has been applied to the largest constituency within the new boundary.
cookie usage
We use cookies, some of which are essential to make our website work. For us to use our non-essential cookies, we need your consent. You can consent by accepting all or alternatively, manage your cookies at any time. For more information, read our cookie policy.
