Channel 4’s Dispatches Programme identifies those most likely to make a flood insurance claim in the future.
With Channel 4’s Dispatches now naming 20 places most likely to be at risk of flooding in the UK, property owners should think about how they should prepare before they have make a flood insurance claim.
Top 20 places listed in Channel 4’s Dispatches include:
- Boston, Lincolnshire 15,906 homes at risk
- Windsor & Maidenhead 11,673
- Enfield, London 9,656
- King’s Lynn & W Norfolk 8,387
- Spelthorne, surrey 8,131
- Runneymede, Surrey 8,106
- Warrington, Cheshire 7,832
- Newport, South Wales 7,762
- E Linsey, Lincolnshire 7,484
- Leicester 7,369
- Shepway, Kent 7,328
- Birmingham 6,497
- Reading 6, 095
- Elmbridge, Surrey 5,614
- Merton, London 5,467
- Siry Flint, N Wales 5,294
- Kirlees, W York 5,230
- Gwynedd, NW Wales 4,439
- Calderdale, W Yorks 4,424
- E Riding, Yorkshire, 4,361
The Association of British Insurers publish figures annually stating the total amount paid out by their members on buildings insurance claims nationally. In 2006/07 these figures state that £18.3 million per day was paid out on both private and commercial properties. In 2005/6, insurers paid out £14.8 million per day, showing an increase over the last 2-year period of 23.60%!! This increased figure is primarily attributable to the devastating floods that occurred in Summer 2007 in central and northern England. In excess of 68,000 additional flood-damage claims were registered which resulted in an additional £2.7 billion being paid out on repairing insured properties.
With hundreds of homes affected across the UK it was no surprise that Spettro, a UK-wide buildings insurance claims management company, was called in to assist families that needed help to get their lives and homes back to normal. Graham Calladine took the opportunity that summer to begin the process of launching his branch of Spettro in Chesterfield and Mansfield. After the summer rains came, Graham’s business became operational a little quicker than he expected to help families around the area when their homes were affected by the severe flooding.
"Spettro organised contractors to strip out saturated plaster in flood damaged properties, thus removing the stress of home owners dealing directly with tradesmen," explains Graham. Between Graham's franchise and the Bradford franchise, Spettro worked on a large number of homes so that family life could get back to normal as soon as possible.”
Tony Smith, one of the directors at Spettro, has nearly 40 years experience of fixing damage to homes caused by our great British weather and offers this advice to property owners in at risk areas:
- If you know you are in an area that is at risk of flooding then sign up for the Environment Agency’s Floodline Warning Direct at https://fwd.environment-agency.gov.uk/app/olr/home
- Check your insurance cover - ensure it covers flood damage
- Know how to turn off your gas, electricity and water mains supplies
- Prepare a flood kit of essential items such as a torch and wind-up radio
- Agree where you will go and how to contact each other
- Think about what you can move to a safe place now (for example photo albums, family videos and treasured mementos/possessions)
- Think about what you would want to move to safety during a flood (for example pets, cars and furniture)
- Create a list of important contact numbers including Floodline 0845 988 1188.
Remember, if your home or business does get damaged by extreme weather conditions then you can leave it to Spettro to get the repairs done by their trusted tradesmen. Spettro Limited is a building insurance claim management company regulated by the Financial Services Authority which allows them to mediate with all the major insurance companies, a service which is free of charge to the insured!
Spettro deals with claims for flood, fire, storm, impact damage and burglaries. They also are involved in rental property refurbishments and detecting the origin of water leaks. Visit www.spettro.net for more information or keep the freephone number handy 0800 389 2251.
