Support for Build Back Better campaign

Flood Re, the joint initiative between the UK insurance industry and the UK Government to promote the availability and affordability of flood insurance, today announces the launch of a new proposition, “Build Back Better”, designed to ensure homes are more resilient against future flooding.

From this month, April, participating home insurers will begin offering customers access to reimbursement costs of up to £10,000, over and above work to repair damage and loss caused by a flood.

The funds will pay for the installation of flood resilience measures that will reduce the impact of future flooding, helping the UK to become more resilient to the changing climate and enabling householders to return to their homes sooner following a flood thus providing vital peace of mind.

The initial participating insurers are: Ageas, Aviva, NFU Mutual, Lloyds Banking Group (Bank of Scotland, Halifax and Lloyds Bank home insurance products) and LV General Insurance

Examples of flood resilience measures can include raising electrical sockets and white goods away from floor level, installing self-closing air bricks and flood resistant doors and replacing flooring with waterproof tiling and grout.

The reimbursement costs can also include carrying out surveys to understand the flood risk and potential mitigation. Combined with individual action such as moving sentimental items and important documents upstairs when a flood occurs, these changes can help protect householders from the devastating impacts of recurrent flooding and mitigate the financial and emotional consequences.

Flood Re says the introduction of the Build Back Better scheme is a vital step in responding to growing climate-related risks.