FAQs

 

Q. Will publishing these maps affect my home’s value, or my insurance premium?

A. Flood risk is only one of a number of factors that homebuyers or insurers consider when buying, or insuring, a home and in most cases it is a minor consideration. It is therefore unlikely that the publication of these maps will affect either your home’s value or your insurance premium. If your home or business has been flooded in the past, then it is likely that your premiums will be or already have been affected.

Q. Is widespread flooding a real risk to London , or just a computer-generated statistic?

A. In July 2007, London was partially affected by the same rainstorm that flooded Hull, Tewkesbury, Harrogate and York. The rainstorm passed relatively quickly over the southwest corner of London and yet it still flooded 400 homes, damaged 150 schools and closed two hospitals. Whilst it was an extreme weather event, it highlighted both our vulnerability to heavy rainfall and the fact that extreme weather events really do happen. Widespread flooding of London is unlikely, but even isolated pockets of flooding would severely challenge our ability to maintain business as usual. The Drain London maps identify where we should focus our efforts to minimise the impact of this potential flooding.