Home insurance for flood-risk areas.
Learn about flooding and flood damage. And find out about home insurance for houses in flood-risk areas.
Published: 26 March 2026
Flood risk and home insurance
If you live in a flood-risk area, or you’re thinking about buying a home in one, it’s important to understand the risks. And also what it means for your home insurance.
In this guide, we explain:
- what you need to know about floodingwhat you need to know about flooding
- how flood risk affects your home insurancehow flood risk affects your home insurance
- how Tesco Insurance can helphow Tesco Insurance can help
- how to check and reduce the flood risk for your homehow to check and reduce the flood risk for your home
What is a flood?
A flood is water flowing into your home, causing damage to the building and contents. It could be coming from an overflowing river or canal or caused by prolonged heavy rainfall.
This is different from escape of water, where water is flowing from inside your home. For example, a burst pipe or broken appliance.
You can learn more about escape of water in our guide - Escape of water: how to protect your home from leaks.
The cost of flood damage
Apart from the upheaval it can cause, flood damage can be expensive to fix. It accounts for one of the highest pay-outs we make for Tesco Home Insurance claims each year. And the average claim amount in 2025 was £48,184*.
Flooding can cause:
- damage to floors, walls, electrics, kitchen units and bathroomsdamage to floors, walls, electrics, kitchen units and bathrooms
- ruined furniture, carpets, electronics and clothingruined furniture, carpets, electronics and clothing
- damage to soft furnishings and personal items from contaminated waterdamage to soft furnishings and personal items from contaminated water
A flood can also make your home unsafe to live in and might mean you need temporary accommodation.
Flooding can cause a lot of disruption. And repairs can take weeks or even months, depending on how bad the damage is.
Does home insurance cover flooding?
Most standard home insurance policies cover flood damage if they include buildings or contents cover.
Cover usually includes:
- drying out and decontaminationdrying out and decontamination
- structural repairsstructural repairs
- replacing damaged fixtures and belongingsreplacing damaged fixtures and belongings
- alternative accommodation if your home becomes unsafe to live inalternative accommodation if your home becomes unsafe to live in
However, insurance for houses in flood-risk areas is different due to the risks.
Check your home insurance policy
It’s important to review your home insurance policy so you know what you’re covered for.
For flood cover, check the following:
- Is flood damage included?Is flood damage included?
- Are there any exclusions? For example, where there are previous flood claims.Are there any exclusions? For example, where there are previous flood claims.
- What is your flood excess?What is your flood excess?
- Do you need to tell your insurer about changes or previous incidents?Do you need to tell your insurer about changes or previous incidents?
If you have Tesco Home Insurance, you can sign in to check your policy documents in Your Insurance Account. But if anything’s unclear, please contact us - we’re here to help.
How flood risk affects your home insurance
Homes in flood-risk areas often cost more to insure. Here’s what you need to know.
- Insurers often charge higher prices for homes in flood zones. That’s because there’s a higher chance of damage and you’re more likely to make a claim. Insurers often charge higher prices for homes in flood zones. That’s because there’s a higher chance of damage and you’re more likely to make a claim.
- If your home’s flooded before, the price can rise even more.If your home’s flooded before, the price can rise even more.
- Home insurance prices depend on your postcode and risk profile, including flood risk. Home insurance prices depend on your postcode and risk profile, including flood risk.
What you need to tell your insurer
When applying for home insurance, always tell the truth about the flood risk to your home.
- You must say if your home’s in a known flood-risk area or has flooded before.You must say if your home’s in a known flood-risk area or has flooded before.
- If you don’t give the correct information, it can void your policy. If you don’t give the correct information, it can void your policy.
- Tell your insurer about any changes. For example, new flood defences you install or past flood events.Tell your insurer about any changes. For example, new flood defences you install or past flood events.
Being open and honest helps to make sure you’re properly protected.
Finding house insurance in flood-risk areas
If you live in a flood-risk area, finding affordable home insurance can feel difficult. But there’s support available.
Flood Re - home insurance for flood risk
Flood Re is a joint initiative between insurers and the UK Government. It helps to keep cover for flood damage available and affordable for eligible homes in flood-risk areas.
- You buy home insurance as normal.You buy home insurance as normal.
- Your insurer might pass the flood part of the policy to Flood Re.Your insurer might pass the flood part of the policy to Flood Re.
- This helps keep premiums more stable.This helps keep premiums more stable.
- You don’t need to contact Flood Re directly.You don’t need to contact Flood Re directly.
If you’ve found it difficult to get home insurance for flood risk, this scheme might help.
Flood resilience - the challenge of build back better
If your home floods, participating insurers can offer up to £10,000 on top of standard flood repairs. This can help make your home more resilient in the future.
This can help to pay for improvements like:
- flood doors and barriersflood doors and barriers
- self‑closing airbricksself‑closing airbricks
- raised electricsraised electrics
- waterproof floors and wallswaterproof floors and walls
- non‑return valvesnon‑return valves
- sump pumps and drainage enhancementssump pumps and drainage enhancements
The aim is to reduce damage and disruption if flooding happens again.
For more info, see this guide from Sedgwick: Flood resilience - the challenge of build back better (PDF)
How Tesco Insurance can help with home insurance for flood risk
At Tesco Insurance, we partner with Open & Direct. They provide cover for a wide range of circumstances, including homes in high flood-risk areas. And if you get a quote, you’ll save 10% with your Clubcard.
You can also call Open & Direct to get a quote, Monday-Friday 9am to 5pm.
Open & Direct is a trading style of Abbey Insurance Brokers Limited, who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA)
A mainstream insurer might not be able to help with some homes in higher‑risk areas. If that’s the case, a BIBA‑registered broker might be able to help.
They can find you specialist cover or check if you’re eligible for a policy supported by Flood Re.
How to check the flood risk for your home
You can check your home’s flood risk according to which part of the UK you live in.
- England: Check the long term flood risk - Gov.ukEngland: Check the long term flood risk - Gov.uk
- Scotland: Check an area’s long term flood risk - SEPAScotland: Check an area’s long term flood risk - SEPA
- Wales: Check your flood risk by postcode - Natural Resources WalesWales: Check your flood risk by postcode - Natural Resources Wales
Before you buy a home in a flood-risk area
- Check local flood maps and risk zones.Check local flood maps and risk zones.
- Ask if the home has ever flooded.Ask if the home has ever flooded.
- Find out if the home’s protected by local flood defences. (Homes with protection may get better insurance premiums.)Find out if the home’s protected by local flood defences. (Homes with protection may get better insurance premiums.)
- Ask your solicitor or surveyor to check for any history of water damage.Ask your solicitor or surveyor to check for any history of water damage.
- Make sure you can get buildings insurance. Some insurers may increase the excess or change terms if there’s a high flood risk. Make sure you can get buildings insurance. Some insurers may increase the excess or change terms if there’s a high flood risk.
How to reduce the flood risk for your home
Taking these simple steps can help to protect your home.
- Fit flood doors or barriers.Fit flood doors or barriers.
- Use sandbags to block doors.Use sandbags to block doors.
- Install door and window guards and air brick covers. Install door and window guards and air brick covers.
- Fit non return valves on drains to stop water coming back inside.Fit non return valves on drains to stop water coming back inside.
- Use waterproof or water‑resistant materials for floors and walls.Use waterproof or water‑resistant materials for floors and walls.
- Keep valuables upstairs when severe weather is expected.Keep valuables upstairs when severe weather is expected.
- Keep an emergency kit ready with water, food, a torch and important documents.Keep an emergency kit ready with water, food, a torch and important documents.
You can learn more about protecting your home from flood damage in our guide - How to prepare your home for a flood.
The Environment Agency stresses that Property Flood Resilience (PFR) can significantly reduce repair costs and help households return home more quickly after a flood.
Help for Home Insurance customers
If you have any questions about your cover, or need to make a claim, we’re here to help.
Important information
Tesco Home Insurance is arranged and administered by Tesco Insurance and is underwritten by Tesco Underwriting Ltd.
You'll find complete details of the cover, monetary limits, exclusions, excesses and terms in our policy documents.
About our data
*Tesco Home Insurance claims data, 2025.
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