• Flood ReThink

    ReThink risk.

    ReThink resilience.

    ReThink the future.

    A decade of change, a future of resilience

Flooding in the UK is changing.
It’s no longer confined to rivers or coastlines.

Surface water flooding is increasing, and urban areas, including communities not traditionally considered “at risk” are now vulnerable.

Flood ReThink marks ten years of Flood Re supporting the UK flood insurance market, and it signals the start of the next chapter.

Because the way we think about flood risk today will shape the resilience of the next decade.

Flood ReThink

What is Flood ReThink?

For ten years, Flood Re has helped households access affordable flood insurance and supported recovery after devastating flood events.

But the climate is shifting and the way we think about flooding needs to shift too. Heavy rainfall and overwhelmed drainage systems are driving a rise in surface water flood risk across towns, cities and suburbs, affecting areas not traditionally seen as flood-prone.

In fact, research shows over 4.6 million properties in England are now at risk of surface water flooding – more than the 2.7 million properties at risk from rivers and the sea. This makes surface water the biggest single source of flood risk in the country, yet it’s often less understood and prepared for.

Flood ReThink is a national campaign shifting the conversation:

  • ReThink risk – Flooding can affect anyone, anywhere.
  • ReThink resilience – Practical, everyday measures can significantly reduce damage and disruption.
  • ReThink the future – The decisions we make now will determine how prepared we are for the next ten years.

Throughout the year, we are taking Flood ReThink across the UK, bringing expert insight directly to communities, industry and policymakers.

This includes the Contain the Rain garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026, highlighting how outside spaces can play a vital role in managing rainfall and reducing flood risk.

Find out more about our Outside Spaces

Flood ReThink isn’t just about awareness. It’s about action.

What can I do to protect my home from flooding?

Flood ReThink isn’t just about understanding flood risk – it’s about taking practical action.

There are simple, effective steps you can take before, during and after a flood to reduce damage, protect what matters most, and recover faster.

Use the sections below to explore three key areas of Property Flood Resilience (PFR): Resistance, Recoverability and Preparedness.

  1. Resistance

    Designed to keep water out of your property.

    Resistance measures aim to stop or limit flood water entering your home in the first place. They help buy valuable time to move precious possessions out of flood reach, and get yourself to a place of safety. As well as reduce the depth of water inside the property.

    Examples include:

    • Flood doors and demountable barriers
    • Self-closing air bricks
    • Non-return valves on drainage systems
    • Toilet bungs and internal seals

    There are many ways flood water can enter your home, it is important to have resistance measures in place at these points to reduce the impact of the flood. You can see a list of entry points here.

    Why it matters: These measures provide crucial time to move possessions and, most importantly, get yourself and your family to safety if flooding is expected. Resistance is about prevention wherever possible.

    You can find out more about different PFR measures you can implement in your home here.

  2. Recoverability

    Designed to reduce damage if water does get in.

    Sometimes, stopping water entirely isn’t achievable. Recoverability focuses on minimising damage and speeding up recovery.

    This means making practical changes inside your home so that materials can withstand flooding and dry out more quickly.

    Examples include:

    • Waterproof tiling and grouting instead of carpets
    • Raised electrical sockets and services
    • Water-resistant kitchen units and finishes
    • Solid flooring instead of absorbent materials

    Why it matters: Recoverability measures can significantly reduce repair time, disruption and long-term damage. Research shows that including recoverability measures into your home can reduce your time spent in alternative accommodation from 210 days to 0 days.

    Recoverability is about bouncing back faster and stronger.

  3. Preparedness

    Knowing what to do – before, during and after flooding.

    Preparedness underpins both resistance and recoverability, and therefore is the most important of the three key areas. It ensures measures are maintained and that you know how to respond quickly and safely.

    Examples include:

    Why it matters: Preparedness doesn’t require major building work, but it can make a major difference. Research shows only 29% of those who had previously experienced flooding said that they knew what they would do in a flood, so make sure you are prepared and in control.

Why Property Flood Resilience matters

Property Flood Resilience (PFR) measures are practical adaptations that help reduce water entering a property or minimise damage if it does. Examples include:

  • Flood doors and barriers
  • Non-return valves
  • Raised electrical sockets
  • Waterproof finishes

Benefits of PFR:

  • Allows you to return to your home quicker after a flood.
  • Reduces the cost of flood repairs by as much as 73% in some cases.
  • Effective in managing all kinds of flooding from rivers, the sea or surface water.
  • Mitigates future risk of flooding, for increased peace of mind.

Source: Flood Mary

  • Roy from Worksop in Nottinghamshire

    We were flooded in 2006 and then again in August 2022. When it floods, the water comes right up to the bottom of our living room bay window and no one can get to the house. After the 2006 floods the house was redecorated, but there was no help with resilience measures to stop the water coming in again. After the 2022 flood, our insurer supported us through the Build Back Better scheme. We had pumps, barriers, flood doors, automatic air bricks, repointed brickwork and non-return valves installed. The workmen were brilliant and worked well together, drying the house, redecorating and installing the new measures. We chose to have the resistance measures because they don’t spoil the look of the house and we can’t keep going through flooding. If the water starts coming towards the house, we can put the barriers up straight away. It gives real peace of mind knowing there’s something in place that can help.

  • Beverly and Sandra in Oxfordshire

    Sandra has been flooded a number of times, most recently in 2024 and 2025. After the flood in 2024 her insurance provider made her aware of Build Back Better and what it can offer. Through the initiative she installed flood doors front and back, automatic air bricks and non-return valves on her drainage. These measures successfully protected her and her home in 2025 when the area flooded again and now give both Sandra and her daughter Beverly peace of mind when the weather turns wet.

     

  • Sandra from Ballater in Aberdeenshire

    Sandra was flooded in December 2015. Following this, she was in temporary accommodation for 17 months whilst her home was renovated. The experience of the flood and being out of her home for so long, brought its own stress and upset. As part of the post- flooding renovations, Sandra had a number of property resilience measures installed including concrete floors to replace the original timber ones; waterproof membrane on walls and she made use of the work to install close cell insulation on her walls. She has also invested in flood resistance measures, including airbrick covers and flood barriers for all the doors – these give her great reassurance that should flooding happen again she would have time to prepare and move valuables before any water makes it into her home.

     

  • Tim and June from Yalding in Kent

    Tim and June bought their home with some property flood resilience measures already in place, however in December 2013 the flood skirt protecting their home was overtopped. Since then they have further adapted their home to reduce the impacts of future floods – including reconfiguring the layout of their living and sleeping areas by adding an extra storey. These changes have significantly reduced the trauma and disruption that flooding causes to their family’s life.

  • Paul from Bewdley in Worcestershire

    Paul and his family were in temporary accommodation for 15 months following their first flood. The stress of the flood, as well as living in a two bedroom flat with his wife and four teenage children, brought its own challenges. Since then, they’ve installed a number of property flood resilience measures in their home, including a flood door, extra pumps, raised sockets, hardwood skirting boards and porcelain tiles. The family were so well prepared for the next flood in February 2022 that they didn’t need to move out at all. They had such little water in their home they were dry and watching TV in the lounge 48 hours later thanks to the property flood resilience measures they had in place.

  • Gordon from Ballater in Aberdeenshire

    Gordon and his wife were flooded on Hogmanay in 2015. They came home to find their Christmas tree knocked over and mud throughout their home, covering their carpets and up their walls. Months of drying out and renovations followed with concrete floors reinstated and non-return valves installed. Since then, they’ve invested in a number of property resilience measures including hydrosacks, air brick covers and flood barriers for their doors. They now live with the reassurance and peace of mind that if flooding were to happen again, the combination of concrete floors and barriers mean that their home is better protected.

  • PFR immersive experience

    Learn about a wide range of PFR measures that can be installed to protect the heart of your home.

    We’ve teamed up with the BRE Innovation Park and the BeFloodReady Centre to show how you can adapt your homes to be resistant to flooding, and also to be resilient to the effects of flooding.

    Step into our immersive video, where we will take you on a tour, showcasing practical and affordable adjustments you can make to your property to make flooding much less destructive and distressing.


    Load experience

FAQs

We get a lot of questions about Property Flood Resilience measures and what they could mean in terms of protecting your home. We’ve provided answers to some of these below.

  1. What is Flood ReThink?

    Flood ReThink is a national campaign shifting the conversation:

    • ReThink risk – Flooding can affect anyone, anywhere.
    • ReThink resilience – Practical, everyday measures can significantly reduce damage and disruption.
    • ReThink the future – The decisions we make now will determine how prepared we are for the next ten years.

    Throughout the year, we are taking Flood ReThink across the UK, bringing expert insight directly to communities, industry and policymakers.

    This includes the Contain the Rain garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026, highlighting how outside spaces can play a vital role in managing rainfall and reducing flood risk.

  2. What are PFR measures?

    The main objective of PFR measures is both slow the speed at which water enters your home, in the event of a flood, and to ensure the flood causes less damage. Ultimately, this allows you to protect what’s most important to you and get back into your home quicker.

  3. How do I protect my home against flooding?

    There are three core components to protecting your home against flooding and these are:

    Resistance: Stopping or slowing the entry of flood waters into your home to give you time to rescue cherished possessions and get your loved ones to safety.

    Recoverability: Sometimes resistance measures do not keep all flood water out of your home, so these measures are designed to minimise damage, should you experience a flood.

    Preparedness: The process of knowing exactly what to do and when should flooding occur, as well as making sure your resilience measures are maintained.

  4. Is flood resilience expensive?

    A common misconception is that PFR measures are expensive, and this is not always the case; just a small change can sometimes make a big difference. The average flood insurance claim in 2025 was around £30,000.

    Crucially, PFR measures have been shown to be a fantastic return on investment.

  5. Is my property at risk of flooding?

    In short, maybe. One in six properties in England are at risk of flood damage.

    We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of resources here, which should help give you a clearer picture of how high your risk is likely to be.

  6. What is Flood Re?

    Flood Re is a joint initiative between the Government and the insurance industry, established in 2016, to ensure that flood insurance remains available and affordable in areas of high flood risk. It puts a cap on the price consumers pay for insurance premiums.

    Flood Re is required to exit the market in 2039, at which point prices in the insurance market will reflect flood risk. Part of its role is to plan for this transition, to ensure the market remains self-sufficient and householders living with flood risk can continue to access affordable insurance.

    The Flood Re scheme, which ensures homes at flood risk can be insured, does not cover properties built after 2009. This is because planning policy has been deemed strong enough, since this date, to ensure flood risk is designed out through the planning system.

    Since its launch in 2015, 98% of householders with a prior flood claim(s) can now receive quotes from ten or more insurers. 4 out of 5 householders with previous flood claim(s) have seen a price reduction of more than 50%.

    Flood Re Annual Review 2025

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