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Inner city properties 'at risk of flooding'

03rd February 2012

Landlords with properties in some of the UK's most populated urban areas may not think that their buildings will come under threat from floods.

The natural disaster is often associated with rural areas of the UK, with large swathes of the Lake District being plighted by the problem in the past few years.

However, Frank Kelly, chief executive officer of UK Flood Barriers, said that flash flooding was an increasing problem, with properties in inner city regions particularly at risk.

With this in mind, those who own letting accommodation in urban areas may want to invest in some financial cover.

Freeholders insurance is a versatile scheme which protects against the fiscal costs associated with not only floods, but fire, subsidence and accidental damage too.

This means that landlords will have money available to them to ensure that repairs to property can be made swiftly and expensive periods of under occupancy are minimised.

As many landlords rely on rental payments as their only source of income they would be wise to view their operation as a small business and Mr Kelly stated that it is organisations which have the most to lose if the worst should occur and a property flooded.

"We're seeing a hell of a lot more coming through in terms of business-to-business, because businesses are more proactive in protecting their own assets," he noted.

According to the Environmental Agency, more than five million people currently inhabit buildings which are at a risk of flooding.

The authority stated that it is not just rivers that can be dangerous.

It explained that sewer flooding was a particular problem in urban areas. The problem occurs when drainage systems are overwhelmed by heavy and prolonged rainfall and can be especially damaging, as properties can become contaminated with raw sewage.