Flood: What are my rights if my home, car or business is affected?

Storms that have ravaged the UK in recent weeks have caused widespread flooding and homeowners, motorists and businesses have been forced to count the costs.

The government has announced thousands of pounds to help communities recover following Storm Henk, which the Environment Agency said left more than 1,800 homes flooded.
Many of those affected are contacting their insurance companies for advice. However, coverage and indemnification can vary significantly depending on the level of impact and fine print on policies, although other automatic protections may also be available.

My house or workplace flooded. What should I do?

Safety is the main priority, so residents, business owners and their employees should only return to the property when it is safe to do so.
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) says most domestic premises, contents and commercial business policies cover storm damage.
Commercial policies cover damage to facilities and inventory. Business interruption cover, which can be included as part of an insurance contract or purchased separately, will cover additional business costs.
Comprehensive car insurance covers the cost of repairing or replacing vehicles damaged by storms.
ABI has a six-step rescue guide on what to do if your home or business floods:

• Contact your insurer as soon as possible: they will advise on emergency accommodation or temporary alternative trading facilities.
• Assess the damage: An insurance adjuster will evaluate the claim
• Cleaning and removal: Work should begin within four weeks
• Disinfecting and drying your home: This can take from a few weeks to a few months
• Repair and rebuilding: A builder appointed by your insurance adjuster should begin work after receiving your drying certificate.
• Moving back: Depending on the extent of damage, this can take anywhere from a few weeks to a year or longer.

ABI’s general insurance policy advisor Louise Clark said insurers expected bad weather and events like this were “exactly what your insurance is for”.
“Their priority right now is to help affected customers recover as quickly as possible,” he added.

But insurance claims adjuster Harris Balcombe told the BBC flood victims should be prepared to wait for their claims to be assessed because industry resources are “stretched”.

Partner Alex Balcombe said: “Although the storms are not as severe, I get the feeling there are more of them and this increasing ‘drip, drip, drip’ is keeping people waiting for long periods of time.

“Regulators cannot give policyholders the assurance they need.”

The ABI said there had been eight storms in the UK in the last three months and insurers were “working around the clock” to support customers.

“Where supply chains are strained, insurers will look to prioritize the most vulnerable wherever possible and keep customers informed so they know when repairs can be carried out,” consultant Ms Clark said.
In the meantime, policyholders are advised to avoid throwing away their belongings whenever possible.
But Mr Balcombe suggested the situation was made worse by many consumers being underinsured by buying “the cheapest product they could find online”.

How can I access government support?

The government has said money will be made available to help communities in England experiencing “extraordinary localized flooding”. Applicants must be in “eligible affected areas.” Help will be available for:
People whose homes are flooded – up to £500 cash to help cover emergency costs
Households and businesses – 100% council tax and business rates relief for at least three months
Small and medium-sized businesses – Business Recovery Grant of up to £2,500
Eligible property owners affected by flooding – up to £5,000 from the Property Flood Resilience Repair Grant Scheme
Farmers – grants of up to £25,000 through the Farming Recovery Fund

Will I get compensation if my electricity is cut off?

During these storms, some homes experienced power outages, making life particularly uncomfortable during extreme weather conditions.
There are rules that mean compensation may be paid by the local electricity distributor.
The compensation amount is £70, with an additional payment of £70 if the situation continues for a long time. However, whether and when this will be paid depends on the severity of the situation in each region.
The Energy Ombudsman, an impartial arbiter of complaints, points out that residents without electricity should be informed of the situation and their rights to compensation by their local distributor.

Do I have to go to work?

Employees should contact their workplace if they have problems getting to work, and employers should try to provide alternative working arrangements wherever possible, according to the latest advice from conciliation service Acas.

“Extreme weather conditions have caused disruption to most road and rail networks, which will impact workers’ ability to travel to work.

“Some employers will also be concerned about staff absences impacting on their productivity and performance,” the organization said in a statement. The statement was included.

Acas’ top tips for workers affected by bad weather include:

• Notify your boss as soon as possible if you cannot get to work.
• Checking if alternative travel options are available
• Asking about flexible working arrangements
• Considering the urgent work that needs to be done

The service also says that if you are available to work but your workplace is closed, then you will generally be eligible for regular wages.