Insurer warns of flash flood risk
The recent flash floods should convince anyone thinking of letting their buildings insurance lapse to save money to think again, the AA said.
Some places in East Anglia, the South-West and South-East were deluged with their monthly average rainfall in just a couple of hours this week, leading to sudden severe flooding.
One AA customer from Lincolnshire told claims staff: "One moment it was sunny and the next you couldn't see over the road through the rain and hail.
"Water started pouring through the back door but an hour later the sun had come out again and the water disappeared, as if nothing had happened - but leaving us with ruined carpets and fused electrics.
"It's like Mother Nature was picking on us," she said. "Only a mile away there had been no rain at all."
Simon Douglas, director of AA Insurance, said: "We are getting claims from places where there is no previous history of flooding.
"Drainage systems are often unable to cope with some of the sudden and extreme downpours we have been experiencing. As a result, homes are being flooded in unexpected places.
"Yet many people are cutting back on insurance which can be a big mistake."
The recession has led to 22 per cent of home owners to cancel or not renew their home cover in a bid to cut their outgoings, according to figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI).
But climate change is bringing more extreme weather, according to the Meteorological Office, including flash floods and hot summers, which increase the chances of subsidence striking.
"Now would be a very good time for those who have not renewed their cover to look for a more competitive insurer rather than cancelling altogether," Mr Douglas said.
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