Frequently asked questions

If you are having PFR installed, a qualified surveyor will visit your property to design a bespoke solution for your home and you can chat with them to agree the best way forward. Many modern PFR products and techniques can fit in subtly with the design of your home. For example, flood doors look just like an ordinary door and walls with flood resilient plasterboard or wall coverings look no different once they are painted and decorated. A variety of different PFR approaches are continuously being developed, making it easier to find the products right for you and your property.

Even if your property has not flooded before, you could still be at risk of flooding. You can check the government website (https://www.gov.uk/check-flood-risk) to find out more and sign up for flood warnings. In our changing climate, flood risk is predicted to increase in the future so even if you haven’t flooded before, this does not mean that you never will. Remember to think about the risk of flooding from surface water, sewers and groundwater, as well as rivers and the sea. You don’t have to wait until after a flood has happened; you can take proactive steps to reduce the risk of flood damage to your property by installing PFR if you are at risk of flooding.

Some PFR measures can be installed in a day and it may be as simple as levelling a surface so that the products can be attached. If you are having any existing work done on your property, whether you’re redecorating or carrying out repairs after a flood, it can be a great time to consider more flood resilient options to minimise the amount of time that construction work is in progress in your home by getting it all done at once. Some people are unable to live in their homes for months or even years after flooding due to the amount of damage caused, so a few days of construction work to reduce the risk of flood damage to your home could be much less disruptive than the alternative if your house was to flood.

After you’ve had PFR installed, you should receive a handover pack from the installer, including details of the products, specifications, operation and maintenance. A post installation survey should also be carried out to determine the flood risk to your property with the new measures in place. Once your PFR has been installed and signed off, it’s your responsibility to maintain it. Check the guidance from your PFR manufacturer, or ask your PFR installer for advice, about how best to maintain your PFR measures. Make sure you have a plan in place for this, including periodically testing your PFR to make sure that it’s still in good working order. If you have PFR measures that can be removed and stored, plan where you will store them to make sure that they are easily accessible whilst minimising the risk of damage. If your PFR needs any repairs, make sure these are carried out by a qualified professional with experience in PFR. Some installers offer maintenance packages or have lists of registered and approved contractors. Keep your PFR provider’s details after you have had the measures installed in case you need to contact them about any maintenance or repairs.

Ask your local council whether your community has a flood plan. If not, you could explore the potential to create one with other members of your community. Your local council may be willing to support this. Regardless of whether your community has a flood plan, you can still create one for your own property so that you know what to do in the event of a flood. Include important details like the contact numbers for your doctor, utilities companies, insurer and member of your family, and list simple steps that you could take to minimise flood damage, such as carrying valuables upstairs and shutting off your electricity mains if safe to do so. Visit our Resources page (link here) for ideas and templates.

If your property is in a flood risk area and you’re planning renovation works or if you've flooded previously and are having your property reinstated, this could be an ideal time to consider installing resilient replacements and design adaptations. If you’re replacing your kitchen, consider installing a flood-resilient kitchen or making a few simple design changes, like choosing kitchen units on higher legs, raising the oven or installing a dishwasher within the drawers. Kitchens are often the most costly item to replace after a flood, so making these changes now can help to reduce the disruption and expense if your kitchen were to flood in future.

If you are considering installing property flood resilience measures, it’s important to commission a qualified surveyor to assess the flood risk to your property. They will look at potential sources of flood risk to your property and points that the water could enter through, and will then recommend measures that would be suitable. You could find a flood surveyor online or by using a website such as the Blue Pages (surveyor « Search Results « Blue Pages) or the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS): RICS: Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Should you find yourself in a position where you require funding assistance to buy property flood resilience measures for your property, you could try contacting community foundations in your area to see if they are able to offer support. Check to see if your local council is providing property flood resilience grants in your area. There may not be funding available to cover the total cost of your property flood resilience measures, so be prepared to meet some of the cost yourself.

There are a wide variety of property flood resilience suppliers and you can find out more about them by researching online. Check to see if they and the products they offer meet industry standards. The Blue Pages website contains details of property flood resilience products and suppliers: Blue Pages. The Know your Flood Risk Homeowners' Guide to Property Flood Resilience also contains an extensive and independent list of property flood resilience companies and products: FloodGuide_ForHomeowners.pdf (knowyourfloodrisk.co.uk)