Flooding is hitting the headlines again with a month’s rain due to fall in the next 24 hours.
At the time of writing, the Environment Agency (EA) has urged 104 communities in England and Wales - particularly in north-west England - to be on flood alert – with 8 on the more severe flood warning requiring immediate action.
Insurers have been warning that in future insufficient investment in flood defences could cause them to withdraw insurance from some homes and small businesses.
The pact between Defra and the insurance industry, known as the Statement of Principles, guaranteeing cover to businesses and households at risk of flooding, is due to end in June 2013, with still no sign of a suitable alternative.
The timing of the latest flooding couldn’t be worse.
The uncertain future of flood insurance was already due to hit businesses and homeowners from this month as insurance cover starts to be renewed that covers the period that includes June 2013.
Some homeowners interviewed by the BBC this lunchtime complained of excesses on their policies of £10,000-£15,000.
The government says it is committed to building long term flood defences and does not want to subsidise the insurance industry.
Anyone affected by the latest flooding will need to check their policies – and make sure all premiums are up to date now.
Landlords - check your leases too. Some leases make landlords liable to make good damage caused by flooding even where flood risk is not actually covered by insurance.
Tenants - also check your lease because, if it doesn’t make the landlord responsible for making good the damage, the burden might fall on you.
Floods seem to be everywhere these days, although I'm not surprised major cities are getting hit as well. With so many people and trash around, these big cities need some serious drain cleaning and better plumbing to keep dry.
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