Over half of new build homeowners believe their home is at risk from flooding

Over half (56%) of new build homeowners believe their home is at risk from flooding according to new research from insurer, Aviva¹.

Research commissioned by the insurer among 2,022 residents, including 539 owners of homes built between 2019-2024, also revealed that owners of newer homes are more likely to be worried about the impacts of climate change. Over two fifths (45%) of new build homeowners believe their home will be affected by climate change in the next year, compared with a third (34%) of all UK residents.

Alarmingly, almost three quarters, (72%) believe this will be the case in 10 years, compared with over half (54%) of all UK residents.

These concerns seem to be borne out by real-life experiences. Over half (58%) of owners of newly built properties say their home has been affected by a weather-related event during the last five years, compared to 40% of all residents. One in three (30%) say their new build home has suffered from wind or storm damage, and nearly a quarter (22%) say their home has been flooded (vs 12% of all residents).

Jason Storah, CEO UK & Ireland General Insurance, Aviva, said: “As weather patterns become more unpredictable, storms and floods are impacting homes and businesses, putting lives and livelihoods at risk. But it would seem that newer homes are particularly vulnerable, and those living in them are worried about what the future may bring.

“Plans to build new homes across the UK are welcomed, but it’s vital they don’t increase the risk of flooding for existing or new residents. Building new properties in flood zones not only puts new homes at risk. It puts additional pressure on already-strained flood defences and drainage systems which become overwhelmed in heavy downpours and increases the risk of flooding to existing homes in the immediate area.

“Over the last ten years, 110,000 new homes² have been built in flood zones and we need to prevent that number from increasing. As Government considers how it will reform planning we are calling for a three-step check to ensure new properties are climate-ready; build in the right places; build with the right materials; build with resilience as standard.”

The research also reveals that new build homeowners are concerned about many aspects of extreme weather and they are consistently more likely to worry about the impacts than residents of all homes combined. Over two thirds (67%) are concerned about the impact of wind or storms on their home (vs 50% of all residents), almost three fifths worry about excess heat (59% vs 45% of all residents) and over half (52%) worry about flooding (vs 35%)³.

Storah added: “The research suggests that owners of newly built homes are acutely aware of the risks their homes face; not just from flooding but also other types of extreme weather. It’s shocking that over two thirds of those living in newer homes are concerned about winds and storms, especially following the UK winter last year which saw twelve named storms.

“It’s vital that we work together now, to get ready for what the future may hold. Storms and floods are disruptive and traumatic, and the effects on families, businesses and communities can be long-lasting.

“As a significant investor in the UK, we agree it is essential to build more homes and planning reforms are an important first step. However, it is crucial that new homes are built in the right places and resilient to current and future flood risks.  These aims are not mutually exclusive, and both must be achieved.”

As Government considers reforms to the national planning rules, Aviva is calling for the following changes to improve the flood resilience of UK homes:

• Implement the National Infrastructure Commission recommendation for all new development to be resilient to flooding from rivers with an annual likelihood of 0.5%.
• Require Local Authorities to use the latest flood risk mapping provided by the Environment Agency for land allocation and planning purposes.
• Simplify and strengthen the sequential test (used in planning rules to steer new development away from higher risk flood areas).
• Require property-level flood resilience measures as standard in building regulations for properties located in a higher risk flood area.
• Urgently implement Sustainable Urban Drainage systems (“SuDS”) (first legislated for by the last Labour Government in 2010).

The research also reveals wider concerns with the quality of homes built between 2019 and 2024. Over a third (36%) of new build homeowners are concerned about the quality of materials used to build their home and 35% are worried about the quality of workmanship. One in seven (15%) believe the location of their home is unsuitable due to potential flooding. Only a quarter (26%) have no concerns about the quality of their house build.

Aviva has put together some advice for people buying or moving to a new home:

• Before you move, check the flood risk in your area.
• In newly built homes, ask your homebuilder if they have installed any flood mitigation measures. And if you’re buying a slightly older home in a high-risk area, ask the current homeowner or landlord if they have installed any flood-resistant or resilient measures.
• Consider installing flood mitigation measures - they can minimise damage caused by water and help you to return to your home quicker.
• Check your home for any signs of damage after you’ve moved in, such as loose tiles or damaged fences and try to secure the property as much as possible ahead of bad weather.
• Check your own insurance and your landlord’s cover if you’re renting - check whether  flood insurance is in place and if there is cover for alternative accommodation if you have to move out due to a flood or other weather event.
• Consider taking out contents insurance. Not only will it protect your possessions if they get lost or damaged, you’ll also be covered for temporary accommodation if your home becomes uninhabitable.
• Sign up to flood warnings from the Environment Agency so you can receive in-the-moment alerts.
• Choose permeable materials for your outside space – such as gravel or block paving – for driveways and consider having some grass or plant borders to help absorb excess water which may help to prevent water entering your home.
• Avoid planting trees or large shrubs close to your home as certain species have extensive roots which may damage your home.
• Watch out for cracks – a little movement and small cracks are normal in newly-built homes. But watch out for cracks that are wider than a 10p coin, diagonal cracks or any cracks around doors and windows as these may indicate subsidence.

View more information about protecting homes from extreme weather.

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References:

^{1. Censuswide survey on behalf of Aviva. 2,022 UK respondents, including 539 homeowners whose homes have been built in the last five years (2019 – 2024). July to August 2024.}

^{2. House building, UK: permanent dwellings started and completed by country - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk). Table 2b (completed homes). Live table 320: Land use change: new residential addresses 2021 to 2022 (gov.uk)}

^{3. Combined figures for ‘Very concerned’ and ‘Slightly concerned’.}