The UK’s flood insurer of last resort has called on the government to make Property Flood Resilience (PFR) part and parcel of the country’s property strategy as Flood Action Week begins.

Flood Re has called on government, insurers, lenders and homeowners to work together to make PFR mainstream, as new evidence reveals that millions of homes could be protected – and the UK economy could save up to £740 million annually – through simple, affordable measures.

Flood Re used the start of the week to publish independent analysis, undertaken in partnership with JBA which found:

• 21.8 million homes – nearly three quarters of the UK’s housing stock – are suitable for PFR based on construction type and floor level.
• Of these, 3.1 million homes are exposed to flood depths of up to 60cm – the range where PFR measures are proven to work.
• National uptake of PFR could reduce annual flood losses by up to £740 million, while targeting the most frequently flooded properties could still deliver £238 million in yearly savings.
• Formal flood defences currently offer protection to over 4 million properties, however residual risk remains especially for properties exposed to surface water flooding where 83% of properties remain at risk.
• For more than 50,000 households, the cost of installing PFR is lower than the average expected annual loss from flooding.
• Typical costs start at £1,500-£3,000 for entry-level measures such as airbrick covers and pumps, compared to residential flood claims of more than £67,000 (Aviva 2023).
• In Hull alone, local adoption of PFR could save nearly £20 million a year – a vivid example of the national findings at community scale.

“Flood risk remains widespread across the UK, with up to 11 million properties exposed and climate change driving more frequent severe rainfall,” Flood Re added. “While over four million homes benefit from formal flood defences, millions will remain unprotected for years to come.

“PFR offers a vital safety net for these homes. It doesn’t replace major defences but reduces damage when flooding occurs and helps families recover faster. Measures include flood doors, non-return valves, raised electrics, waterproof finishes and removable kitchens.”

The report added it needed to be recognised PFR is not just for affluent homeowners. Terraced houses, bungalows and ground-floor flats -often in more deprived areas – show the greatest potential savings when resilient measures are installed.

Dr David Wood, managing director at JBA Risk Management, added: “This study provides clear evidence of the benefits of Property Flood Resilience. By quantifying the savings from only relatively modest interventions, we have demonstrated the value that PFR brings in both reducing the losses from flood and enhancing national flood resilience.”

Flood Re added it is urging government, insurers, lenders and homeowners to collaborate and unlock PFR at scale.

“Without changes to policy, funding and awareness, millions of families will remain unnecessarily exposed to flooding, with significant economic consequences,” it added.

Kelly Ostler-Coyle, Director of Corporate Affairs at Flood Re, concluded: “This new evidence shows the difference that simple, affordable resilience measures can make, not just to householders, but to the UK’s ability to withstand future floods. A £10-£20 airbrick cover can help to stop water entering, yet scaled-up adoption of property-level resilience could save the UK hundreds of millions every year. That’s why we are urging government and industry to treat resilience with the same urgency as insurance and defence investment – because families can’t afford to wait.”

She added Flood Re stands ready to work with policymakers, insurers and communities to make resilience “affordable, accessible and unavoidable”.