Flooding is a massive issue across the UK. Being an island nation, we are surrounded by water, and a large proportion of the UK is at some risk of flooding. As a landlord, renovator, or home owner, how can you reduce the risk of flooding damaging your property?
In today’s blog post we are going to look at some direct strategies you can use to minimise the risk of that flooding can do to your property, nut also help make sure that you are safe from any dangers.
Sign up for any relevant flood warning systems.
The simplest and easiest way to ensure that you know about floods is to sign up to warning systems that operate in your area. By doing this, you will often receive advanced warnings automatically. The Environment Agency’s early warning system is an easy tool that you can sign up to. As an organisation, they manage the risk of flooding from the sea, estuaries, and rivers; they provide online services that are up to date, easily accessible, and free for everyone to use. You can visit their ‘flood warning summary’ page to stay aware of any risks to your property.
Identify the ‘weak points’ of your home.
You can inspect your home thoroughly, for possible weak spots to identify and prioritise what maintenance tasks you need to perform first. This includes identifying any leaks or cracks that need to be fixed, fixing any cracks in guttering, and the cleaning out of gutters. Windows and door seals need to be looked to to ensure they are as tight fitting as possible, and an occasional roof inspection to identify weak spots or leaks in your roofing.
As a small side note, when you are in the market for a new property, you need to consider the flood risk of the property. Before you buy the house, make sure that you get estimates from an insurance company to see what your premiums will be for living in a flood plain or dangerous area. It is always worth getting a few quotes from different insurers to make sure you are getting the best deal.
Read about the types of different protection methods and think about the best one for your property.
Flood resistance is the act of preventing water from entering your property. Sandbags and plastic sheeting are tradition techniques at flood prevention. However, there are also more modern ways to prevent water from damaging your property and belonging; these modern techniques are also much easier to use and dispose of properly. Sandbags can be used effectively as an emergency measure, if you have space to store them or can get hold of them easily, but as part of a prevention plan you should utilise a wide range of modern prevention methods. These include pre-planning, water barriers, self-sealing airbricks and flood resistant doors and windows.
Flood resistance is the act of preventing water from entering your home in the first place. Traditionally, sandbags and plastic sheeting have been used for this purpose but many experts agree that – when compared with more modern long-term alternatives – they’re relatively ineffective, take up a lot of space and are difficult to dispose of. Sandbags are great for an emergency and should be kept on hand during high risk periods. But as part of preventative planning, water-resistant barriers, self-sealing airbricks and flood-resistant doors and windows are far more effective. There are many different water-resistant products to consider, here are three of the top ideas to think about:
Elevate your sockets.
This preventative step can be done by a trained electrician. This includes the elevation of TV equipment, speaks, and entertainment systems. By moving all your electrical equipment to 1.5 metres from ground level, you can avoid damage if your property is breached by low level flood waters. Though it is costly to actually move your plug sockets to a high level (where applicable), it can save a lot of money in the long term.
Flood planning is essential.
Make sure that you have a plan in place, you whoever lives in the property has a plan in place, as this ensures you will remain safe. This plan should include the emergency actions that need to occur in a dangerous situation, and it should place tasks to each individual responsible. The plan can include instructions on how and where to set up temporary resistance, which areas of the house need flood preparations, and what to do in the event that one of these methods fails and what to do in the event of an evacuation.
If you want to know more about property management, and our specific property advice, then make sure to have a look at the impressive range of Nick Fox books. We have many books about property development, property rental, and HMO rentals.
Nick Fox started his property investment career 10 years ago and his portfolio has grown to one of the largest in the UK. Nick now mainly focuses on HMOs (houses in multiple occupation) and works to help others achieve property success too. Visit here to find out how he can help you.
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