Here are six quick tips from Boys & Maughan Senior Partner Peter Rodd.

1. Ask the owner whether the property has previously suffered from flooding and make general enquiries in the local area if you are moving to a new region before making an offer. If a home is at risk of flooding it may be difficult to obtain a mortgage or suitable insurance cover and sell the property.
2. Bear in mind that flooding comes in various forms  – coastal, river, drains backing up or surface water from a neighbouring field or garden, for example.
3. The Environment Agency Flood Map provides a free postcode search for information on flooding from rivers and the sea but not the common flood causes of surface water and groundwater. It is a very useful tool but should not be used as the sole means of assessing the flood risk for a property.
4. The Law Society's Property Information Form specifically asks the seller to confirm if the property has ever suffered from flooding and your conveyancer will check the answer. If you are concerned about the risk of flooding, raise it with your solicitor and they will be able to advise you.
5. Make sure that insurance can be obtained for the property on acceptable terms. The easiest way to do this is to log on to an insurance comparison website and check whether the premiums available for the address are reasonable.
6. If you are thinking of buying an apartment on the fourth floor of a block of flats, don’t assume that if only the ground floor is flooded it will not affect your insurance premium. Depending on the circumstances, a claim could have a knock-on affect on the whole building.

​​Find out more about our award winning approach to conveyancing and contact us for advice if you are planning to buy a home that could be at risk of flooding.