Flooding can cause significant damage, and it may take several months to fully recover. You should:
- Contact your insurance company as soon as possible, keeping accurate records of all conversations
- Only re-enter the property when it is safe to do so
- Take photographs of any damage to show to your insurance company
- Disinfect hard surfaces and belongings
- Make sure the property is fully dried out and has been deemed safe
Recovery first steps
For practical advice on what to do if your property floods and things to think about during the recovery process, including a checklist, please view or download Flood Recovery – The first steps (floodhub.co.uk, 9 pages, opens as PDF).
Build Back Better Scheme
If you’re repairing or redecorating, think about using flood-resilient materials to help next time. Flood Re’s Build Back Better scheme helps householders who have been flooded to install property flood resilience measures, up to about £10,000, when repairing their home, so that it is better prepared for any future flooding. The idea is that a home doesn’t just get restored to its previous state but is made stronger and more resilient so that recovery is faster and damage is less severe.
Flooding and health
Floods can affect both your physical and mental health. Contact your GP or local health services if you feel unwell. Take care of your mental health too; feeling anxious, stressed or upset after flooding is common. Talking to friends, family or support services can help you cope. For more advice on staying healthy after flooding, please visit Flooding and health: advice for the public (GOV.UK).
