If you live in a rented property that has previously flooded or that is in a high flood risk areas is advisable that you take out contents insurance cover that also covers you for flood.
Whilst your landlord will be responsible for any damage to the actual property itself they won't be liable for any damage to your personal possessions such as your furniture and clothing.
Unless you have the financial means to replace everything that you own then we recommend that you take out insurance for your personal belongings.
Will my contents insurance policy provide me with an alternative place to live if my home is flooded?
Typically yes, if your contents are damaged by flood and your home can't be lived in due to damage caused by flooding your insurer will pay for you and your family members to temporarily live in alternative accommodation.
The amount of cover your insurer will provide you with will be up to a percentage of your contents sum insured, typically this around 20%. It's not uncommon for properties to take up to and beyond 12 months to be repaired so it is important that you make sure you have enough cover in place.
The alternative accommodation that your insurer will pay for will be on a like for like basis to that which you are currently living in.
I've made improvements to my rented property, will these be covered under my contents insurance policy?
It is common for contents insurance policies to include cover for improvements that a tenant has made to a property that would commonly not be removed when a property is vacated e.g. floor coverings.
Will I still have to pay rent to my landlord if I am temporarily living elsewhere?
This will depend on the terms and conditions of your tenancy agreement; however a contents insurance policy may cover any rent you may owe your landlord whilst the home can't be lived in.
As a tenant am I eligible for the Flood Re Scheme?
Yes, as long as you meet all of the Flood Re eligibility criteria:
- The property must currently be covered by an insurance contract which is held in the name of, (or on trust for) one or more individuals or by the personal representative of an individual.
- The policy holder, or their immediate family, must live in the property for some or all of the time (this can be with other people) or the property must be unoccupied.
- The property must have a domestic Council Tax Band A to H (or equivalent).
- The property must be used for private, residential purposes.
- The property must be a single residential unit or a building comprising of two or three residential units.
- The property must be insured on an individual basis or have an individual premium, it cannot be part of a policy which includes a number of other properties as well.
- The property must be built before 1st January 2009 (if a home is built before 1st January 2009 but then demolished and rebuilt, the new home will however still be eligible).
- The property must be located within the UK specifically being: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland (excluding the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands).
Read our Flood Re Guide for more details.
I live in a block of flats - can I still be insured under the Flood Re Scheme?
Yes, as long as you meet the Flood Re criteria (listed above).
If I am finding it difficult to find cover for flood, will my landlord find it difficult to find cover for flood too?
Rental properties that have previously flooded or that are in high flood risk areas are becoming increasingly difficult to insure. If you are having difficulty finding cover for your contents that includes flood, the chances are that your landlord may well be finding it difficult to get insurance cover that includes flood too.
Should I be concerned that my landlord does not have flood cover?
Rental properties that have previously flooded or that are in high flood risk areas are becoming increasingly difficult to insure. If you are having difficulty finding cover for your contents that includes flood, the chances are that your landlord may well be finding it difficult to get insurance cover that includes flood too.
If I am finding it difficult to find cover for flood, will my landlord find it difficult to find cover for flood too?
It is advisable to check whether your landlord has insurance that includes flood cover. If they don't it's a good idea to check whether they have the financial means to repair your home and whether they will provide you with somewhere to live if the property does flood.
Is my landlord able to get cover under the Flood Re scheme?
Landlords are generally not eligible for the Flood Re scheme, the scheme was not intended to provide cover for properties that are let for commercial gain. The exception to this is if your landlord is an immediate family member, where this is the case and the property meets the eligibility criteria the buildings can be covered under the Flood Re Scheme.
If you need help getting insurance for your holiday home or holiday let call our team of flood specialists on 01832 770770.