Selling My House Situated in a Flood Zone

Selling a property built in a flood plain

Due to increased flooding risk across the UK, many property owners in flood risk zones fear that their home might be unsaleable or indeed very difficult to sell. Though buying a house in a flood-prone zone is not for everyone, a number of buyers can be happy with this risk. Specialist property buyers like ourselves can take a pragmatic view when it comes to making a fair offer on such houses given the risks involved. We are happy to discuss our approach to valuation in detail if you would like to hear more. Our team can be contacted on 020 7183 3022.

The various types of flooding that can often occur are as follows:

• Sewer
• River
• Surface water
• Groundwater
• Coastal

With the continuing effects of global warming along with climatic variations, we are seeing the areas at risk of flooding evolving. As a house seller you should consider this risk and bear in mind that any potential buyer will be making enquiries with regard to this specific risk and paying careful attention to watercourses, such as the location and route of rivers and the coastline in relation to the property itself.

Do I have to mention historic flooding?

When you sell your house, you will need to complete a Seller’s Property Information Form (SPIF), and this will ask you detailed and direct questions regarding the flooding history of your property. This form is then sent to the purchaser’s solicitor as part of standard pre-contract enquiries. It is important for you to complete the form truthfully and to the best of your knowledge. The form often asks if any part of your property (including the surrounding garden, buildings or land) have ever been flooded amongst other pertinent questions.

As well as the SPIF, the purchaser’s solicitor will often make an Environmental search which contains flood data and a flood risk assessment specific to your property. These are commonplace and indeed typically compulsory if the buyer is buying the property with the requirement for a mortgage.

Providing as much detail as possible on the Seller’s Property Information Form

Given the searches will reveal historic flooding data, this is all the more reason to be truthful on the Seller’s Property Information Form otherwise there is a risk that the buyer will no longer trust you if you have decided to be sparing with the truth. Some points you may wish to consider disclosing:

• Highlight any preventive measures you have taken in response to flood risk
• Flood defences in place
• Detail any works carried out to defend your home from flooding
• Detail any historic flooding events on your property

What is flood insurance?

Flood insurance is often included as part of your standard buildings insurance policy, however it typically does not cover your possessions or contents. You may choose to have flood insurance in case of:

• Flooding from sea water due to a high tide or storms
• A river / bursting its banks
• Surface water or groundwater flooding resulting from heavy rainfall or a burst pipe

How does flooding affect home insurance?

As I’m sure you appreciate, any property in a flood zone will likely attract higher insurance premiums and indeed can possibly be uninsurable. If you live in an area that is deemed to be at a greater risk of flooding, you may be requested to obtain an “Insurance-Linked Request Letter”. This can be provided free of charge by the Environmental Agency and contains details such as:

• Dates when the area experienced previous flooding
• Planned improvements to reduce the flood risk in the area
• Most recent National Flood Risk Assessment that has been carried out

You can find our more on the Environmental Agency website.

Selling a home in a flood zone

There can often be far more to a property than just the fact that it is situated in a flood zone. It is these additional features that may set the property apart from others and assist finding a buyer for the property. For example, you can find extremely picturesque houses and cottages with river and sea views that a buyer may be keenly interested in. Here at LDN Properties, we are a specialist home buyer and will consider all types of houses and flats, including those in flood zones and near to watercourses. Our team of professionals are happy to discuss the sale of your property further and explain how we can assist further.