You must disclose certain information when you are selling a house.
After all, it’s ethically the right thing to do. And you are typically liable up to six years after the exchange of contracts.
Does information about your property’s flood history come under this must-tell information?
Read on to find out.
What is the difference between a flood and a leak?
According to insurance companies, ‘flood damage’ is caused by events outside the property. Examples include:
- Seawater coming over coastal defences
- River bursting its banks
- Heavy rainfall.
On the other hand, a leak is considered to come from inside the property (or a neighbour’s property). This might include:
- Burst pipes
- Leaking appliances
- Gaps between windows or doors.
What can I do to stop my property from flooding?
There are a number of steps you can take, as a homeowner, to reduce the likelihood of your property being flooded. Some of these steps include:
- Check if you are at risk of flooding
- Sign up for free flood warnings
- Prepare a flood plan
- Purchase flood protection equipment
There is equipment which you can purchase to make your property less vulnerable to flooding.
Install flood protection measures
First of all, you can install flood protection products, which might include floodboards (can be fixed to your windows and doors), plastic covers (to seal airbricks) and sandbags.
Buy or repair flood-proof features
You can also consider laying tiles instead of carpets, moving electrical sockets up the wall, and fitting non-return valves. These steps are certainly worth taking if you know that you live in an area which is vulnerable to flooding.
Gathering a list of useful contact numbers
This might be your local council, utility providers and your insurance company.
Learn how to shut off your electricity or gas supply
This can be as simple as turning off a few switches. Speak to a professional about this.
Consider what you would need to move to safety in a flood
Move your valuable belongings to a safe place
How to find out if a property has flooded before
Ask the seller
The easiest way to find out if a property has flooded before is by asking the seller, or the estate agent. Sellers have a duty in the UK to disclose if past floods have affected the property.
Contact the Environment Agency
As an alternative option, you can request the flooding history of a property in England by sending the property’s address to the Environment Agency.
If you do not know the postcode, you can send a map of the area – attach a file or include a link to an online map.
You should keep in mind that the Environment Agency does not have flood records for all properties in England, and subsequently may not have data for your property.
Contact your local flood authority or the internal Drainage Board
In this case, you may be able to try your lead local flood authority or the Internal Drainage Board in your area.
Does a past flood affect my property’s value?
A study by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors found that flooding can have a negative impact on a property’s value.
The percentage it reduces the property’s price by will vary, depending on how severe the flooding was, and how long ago it took place.
The study also found that the house value typically recovered three years after the flood taking place.
When you are selling a house, it is crucial that you are completely clear about the property’s flooding history.
Even if you are concerned that this may impact the value of your house, it is still for the best, because the new buyer can sue you if you do not share the property’s flood history with them.
Why is it important to disclose a property’s flood history?
It is extremely important for a property seller to disclose the flood history of their house.
This is because you are liable (as a house seller) for up to six years after the sale of your property.
If you do not make the property’s flood history clear, and the new buyer finds an issue which they are unhappy with, then they can sue you for not disclosing this information.
You can disclose the flood history of your property in the Property Information Form (TA6).
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