Advice: The importance of adequate flood insurance protection

Specialist park home insurance broker Lifesure can provide flood cover to many park homes in even the UK’s highest-risk flood areas, thanks to its adoption of the Flood Re scheme

It has been another wet winter in the UK, with record-breaking rainfall recorded across the country. News coverage has highlighted the devastating impact of the extreme wet weather and storms Bella and Christoph. Climate change predictions indicate that this is a sign of things to come for all of us. December rainfall totals were well above average in most areas, and above double the average in some places; overall, the UK had 135% of average rainfall, according to Met Office figures. Climate change is just one factor in the causation of flooding, with population growth, building developments and change of land use also cited as contributing factors in many of the areas at risk.

What can individuals do? With the occurrence of flooding here to stay, what can individuals do to find out if their park home property is within an area at higher risk of flooding and how can they best protect their park homes?

Flood Re

Flood Re is a joint initiative between the Government and insurers. It aims to make the flood cover element of household insurance policies more affordable for those in high-risk areas and is planned to be in place until 2039. Home insurance enables individuals to repair damage and replace possessions. However, with the average household flood claim expected to be £32,000 for those customers recovering from storms Ciara and Dennis (according to ABI, the Association of British Insurers), this is an expensive prospect for insurers.

The Flood Re scheme, enables insurance companies to offer cheaper policies to people who live in higher flood risk areas and provides the opportunity for people to shop around and find a policy that suits them. The Flood Re scheme is a levy that raises £180m every year, funded by all UK insurers that sell home insurance. It is used to partly cover the flood risks in home insurance policies, including park homes, and is managed behind the scenes by brokers and insurers.

How is it decided which policies end up with Flood Re?

It is expected that around 350,000 properties will meet the eligibility criteria and benefit from Flood Re over time, although there is no cap. This figure represents about 2% of eligible UK households, says ABI.

Specialist park home insurance broker, Lifesure, can provide flood cover to many park homes in even the UK’s highest risk flood areas, thanks to its adoption of the Flood Re scheme. Working with its park home underwriter, AXA, Lifesure is the only specialist park home insurance broker to implement the Flood Re process to date.*

Could your park home qualify for the Flood Re scheme?

To determine if your property could qualify for Flood Re, why not try the free Flood Re tool? The tool does not ask for personal details and can give you a general guide to eligibility.

What do park home residents need to do?

In short, nothing more than requesting a quote or accepting a renewal – just as normal. Lifesure handles all the behind the-scenes logistics to ensure the customer enjoys a simple and efficient purchase and has the necessary cover in place for any flood risks. The claims process is also the same, with the customer following the standard process.
 

FURTHER INFORMATION

Contact Lifesure

01480 504212
Visit the Lifesure website

For more informative articles like this, plus park home and holiday park reviews and information try Park and Holiday Home Inspiration magazine, which is available in both print and digital formats.

*Terms and conditions, limitations, exclusions and acceptance criteria apply. There is a cost for covering your park home against flood through the Flood Re scheme and, if you do need to make a flood claim, there is a minimal £250 excess. Not all homes are eligible for the flood cover through the Flood Re scheme.

Images copyright Lifesure and may not be reproduced without permission.