UKC

Our premium is due for renewal and it has increased. No surprise there then.
I contacted a couple of other well known companies who got part way through the questions then said that they wouldn't insure us at all as we were in a flood area.
We have never been flooded. There is a stream at the bottom of our garden which is around 20+ metres from our back door. At the bottom of the garden is a 5 metre drop into this shallow stream, mostly ankle deep, and that drop is down a stone retaining wall which has stood for over 40 years.
For water to reach our house the stream would need a vertical rise of around 7 metres and horizontal movement of over 20 metres and even then we would not be flooded.
In 2002 there were floods in the lowest part of the town but this was even further below the level of our house and half a mile away. No mention was made of refusing to insure us after that 'till now.
Any ideas as to why we are being penalised? We have lived here for 18 years and they've always been happy to take our money before.

In reply to Co1in H:


You might find that what is important to insurers is not your own assessment of the flood risk, but where your place appears on the UK flood map:

http://watermaps.environment-agency.gov.uk/wiyby/wiyby.aspx?topic=floodmap#...

Good luck anyway.

In reply to Co1in H:
How close are other houses in your road to the river? if they are right on the stream it could be effecting the whole postcode

PM me your postcode and house number and I'll look it up on the flood database and tell you what risks are flagged.

What you'll find is some insurers are very sophisticated with flooding and others aren't, it sounds like you are talking to insurers that rate based on the entire postcode or perhaps even just a portion of it.... ie. GU33 6 (instead of GU33 6LJ). Insurers with more sophistication will look at the exact location.

Another possibility is there is a flood risk you aren't aware of up stream from you... e.g. in the next road there could be a restriction that when the stream is in spate means it could divert.

These insurers that you have contacted - they should point you towards an insurer that will quote (its part of the insurance agreement with the government that no house is "uninsurable"- that's not to say it might be pricey)