Flood Insurance Rates
There are over two million privately owned homes in the United Kingdom that are in danger because of flooding damage. These homes, shops and other properties are located in places that receive heavy rainfall, or coastal areas that might get high tides. Weather is a major factor, but homes are also at risk from flooding due to burst pipes or faulty plumbing.
Though some places undergo more devastation as compared to others, like the ones closer to the sea shore, it becomes essential that you thoroughly make sure that you are not affected by the aftermath of a flood. Latest studies have revealed that many British residents, in excess of 50%, were not satisfactorily insured against flooding. In the year of 2006 alone, as per statistics available, approximately 52% of residents ravaged by floods were not insured.
During a recent survey, it was found that the British population was grossly underinsured against flooding. The results of this survey are supported by the 52% of consumers affected by flooding in 2006, only to find that their insurance did not cover flooding. Premiums will vary based on level of risk to flooding in your area. Flood maps, created by the Environmental Agency, are utilized by insurance companies to calculate flooding risk. If an area has a 1 in 75 chance or higher of flooding, it is determined to be a high risk area.
Areas with a 1 in 200 chance of flooding are considered low risk. Residences within the high risk area should anticipate paying highly for flood insurance, if coverage is obtainable, while medium to low risk areas could expect a tiered payment scale in line with the amount of flooding risk.
As a homeowner with flooding risk, the expectation is that all prevention measures are taken to guard against flooding. Insurance companies may require that products designed to prevent flooding are purchased and installed prior to review of an application. All homeowners, but particularly high risk owners, will benefit greatly by shopping around for insurance as the cost can vary greatly by company.
In reality your area many not be prone severe flood devastation, but companies which use certain yardsticks to calculate the risk, could surmise that you live in a danger prone place and may unjustifiably charge you a higher insurance rate. But, you do not have to bog down but instead, look around for such companies which adopt a different policy for evaluating the area you live in, so that you get a lower insurance rate and thereby a lower premium.
Graham McKenzie is the syndication coordinator a leading South African Insurance information portal, which amongst others specialises in Car Insurance.