A year on from floods and homeowners need to be prepared

One year on from the floods that devastated many parts of the country, Sir Michael Pitt has highlighted the need for homeowners to take responsibility for their homes and protect their families from flood risk. Following the events which saw 44,600 homes and 7,100 businesses flooded, Pitt said that the public should have been better prepared. Landmark Information Group, the UK’s leading provider of property and environmental risk information advises homeowners to take their own steps to protect their homes and determine whether they live in one of the 2 million properties in the UK currently at risk from flood.

With climate change bringing more extreme weather conditions to the country, more and more of our country’s homes and families are suffering the consequences of flooding. By purchasing an up-to-date flood report which determines the flood risk to a property, homeowners and potential buyers can take control and find out if they are likely to be affected by such an eventuality.

James Sherwood-Rogers, Managing Director of Landmark Legal & Financial, comments: “Sir Michael Pitt’s response to last summers floods is a wake up call to homeowners who are not aware of the potential threats that flooding can cause. Flood risk is now a very real situation that is here to stay in the UK. With weather conditions proving increasingly unstable, homeowners can no longer afford to ignore the escalating threat that flooding poses to our homes and families. ”

Pitt also suggested that his final report due out at the end of this month will recommend giving local councils lead responsibility for flood risk management despite admitting their lack of resources to undertake this sufficiently. With limited funds and no clear timelines for achieving local flood plans, Landmark suggests that homeowners assess their own risk.

Sherwood-Rogers continues: “Ultimately it is the responsibility of the homeowner to determine whether they are at risk from flood. Where there are now more warnings in place and measures that people can take to protect their homes from such an eventuality, homeowners can limit potential damage by being aware of the risks from the outset.”

Landmark’s new website homecheckflood.co.uk has recently been launched to highlight the issues associated with flooding, along with practical guidance on how to obtain detailed flood risk assessment information to allow homeowners to make sufficient preparations to minimise damage and inconvenience. By encouraging a proactive approach to the serious environmental threats that are predicted to destroy thousands more homes in the UK, homeowners can make moves which could help save lives.