Halifax advice for flood hit homeowners

In the wake of widespread flooding, particularly in Yorkshire and the North East of England, Halifax Home Insurance offers the following advice to people who's homes have been affected.

If you haven't already done so, switch off the mains power supply

Call your home insurer as soon as possible and give them full details of the damage

Where it is safe to do so, salvage any items of personal value eg. family photographs etc.

Move anything that is not too badly damaged upstairs or away from flood water where possible

Open doors and windows to ventilate your home and help to dry it out

Make sure your main power, gas and water supplies are checked by a reputable and fully qualified tradesman before reconnecting

Halifax Home Insurance has set up specialist units in the worst affected areas to ensure its claims teams can get to each location as soon as possible. Martyn Foulds, senior manager of claims for Halifax Home Insurance said: "Our home insurance claims volumes are now triple what we would normally expect at this time of year as a direct result of the recent heavy rain and floods. Our teams of personal claims consultants are currently visiting customers who have been affected by the floods, advising them on how to make a claim as well as helping them arrange repairs. We would advise any customers who are affected by the flooding to get in touch with us as soon as possible if they haven't already done so."

For more information on Halifax Home Insurance, or to register a home insurance claim, visit halifax.co.uk/insurance.