Spring into action: flood risk guidance for your clients

With spring around the corner and lighter days ahead, the new season also brings a shift in the risk landscape for your clients. Heavier rainfall and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns at this time of year can heighten the risk of storms and flooding.

With recent flood warnings already issued by the Met Office, now could be an ideal point in time for businesses and homeowners to review their flood risk and the measures they have in place to help reduce potential losses. Our Building Future Communities report also shows how climate‑related pressures are set to increase, with surface‑water flooding expected to impact significantly more properties by 2050.

To help you support your clients through this period, we’ve gathered a range of useful spring risk management resources, with a particular focus on flood risk management, that you can share with your Personal Lines and Commercial Lines clients.

These practical tools and insights can help clients understand their exposure and take simple steps that can help make a difference when severe weather hits. 

With wetter conditions and frequent downpours in spring, clients may face:

• Property damage to buildings, belongings, stock and equipment
• Business interruption and operational delays
• Restricted access to premises
• Repeat flooding in known high‑risk areas

Preparing early can help to significantly reduce disruption and help your clients recover more quickly.

For your Commercial Lines clients

Floods can be devastating to their business’s property, contents, production and ability to trade. Our flood-focused Risk Management Guidance page offers practical advice to help minimise any damage and speed up recovery time.

Loss Prevention Standards

Our Loss Prevention Standards provide clear, practical guidance to help commercial clients prepare for and respond to flooding and severe weather. View our flood-specific Loss Prevention Standards

Support available through our Specialist Partners

Ashfield Solutions

Through Ashfield Solutions, your clients can access practical flood risk services tailored for businesses and commercial property, such as;

• Detailed flood risk assessments and property surveys
• Flood resilience and mitigation strategies
• Integrated flood risk management plans
• Business continuity and flood emergency plans
• Expert consultancy 

JBA Consulting

They can provide Flood Risk Assessments for insurance purposes through JBA Consulting, including;

• Outline design of mitigation options such as Property Flood Resilience, Sustainable Drainage Systems and Natural Flood Management
• On-site hazard assessment survey
• Flood risk assessment report for insurance purposes
• Indicative costings of mitigation options

Apex Flood Solutions

Through Apex Flood Solutions, commercial clients can access practical resilience measures, including;

• Flood doors and barriers
• Flood‑resistant kitchens
• Resilient walls and floors
• Drainage protection

For your Personal Lines clients

Know what to do when there’s a flood warning - practical steps for your clients

Help your clients act quickly to help keep safe and protect their homes, by sharing the following tips:

• Move things to a safe spot - treasured household items could be at risk of water damage and electric items can become an electrocution risk if they come into contact with water
• Try to stop the water getting in - laying sandbags at entry points such as doors, or using pillowcase or plastic bag filled with garden soil can help protect homes
• Alert neighbours - advise your clients make sure everyone knows there is a flood on the way and what the plan is - especially old or unwell neighbours
• Grab some essentials - keep practical items close to hand such as a torch, batteries, medicine and personal documents

Understand how everyday choices affect flood risk

Our research shows that many homeowners are unaware of the risks posed by popular garden changes, including artificial grass or a lack of planting. A lack of permeable materials and planting in a garden can make it more difficult for water to be absorbed. You can read more about this here - Study shows homeowners unaware of flood risk posed by common garden changes.

Flood Re: support for eligible household clients

Our partnership with Flood Re helps ensure eligible householders in high‑risk areas can access affordable insurance, even if they’ve experienced flooding before. Flood Re provides guidance to help clients understand their flood risk and prepare effectively. Are your clients at risk? Learn more about Flood Re.

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