Preparing for floods

Information about how to prepare for a flood, what insurance you may need, and advice based on your tenancy type.

My home or business is being flooded

If you are in immediate danger of flood water now, call 999.

If your home has been flooded, once you are safe you can call our contact centre on 020 7641 6000 and state that you are affected by flooding.

Our staff are on hand to help you access support you may need. This includes advising on how to access insurance claims and helping you with your housing association.

Why does flooding happen

In Westminster, local flood risk is mostly from surface water sources rather than running water like the River Thames. This is closely linked to the drainage system, including gullies and sewers managed by Thames Water, and their ability to move water away quickly.

In Summer 2021, 154 households in Westminster experienced severe levels of flash flooding. Unfortunately, this incident is not a one-off and in June 2016, widespread flooding took place in Pimlico due to heavy rainfall. Flash flooding can happen anywhere, and the impact may be worse if you live in a basement property.

Due to rising global temperatures, Westminster is becoming more susceptible to extreme rainfall that can include storms, flash flooding and higher sea levels affecting the River Thames, all of which can cause damage or disruption to human life, buildings and infrastructure.

In response, we and our residents are taking action to reduce our carbon footprint and become a ‘Carbon Zero’ city by 2040. However, we also appreciate that some impacts cannot be avoided.

We have several responsibilities relating to flooding. We are also working with Government and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to improve residents’ access to flood insurance, and ensure their interests are represented at the national level.

Be prepared

If you live in a flood risk area, it is vital that you are prepared by doing the following:

sign up to weather warnings
put your valuables and important documents on a high shelf to protect them from water damage
learn how to turn off your water, gas and electricity supply
check your household building or contents insurance covers flooding
create a list of useful contact numbers
check drains outside your home and on your street are clear
prepare a flood kit

You can also read the Greater London Authority’s comprehensive advice on flash flooding.

Insurance

Residents should ensure they have buildings and/or contents insurance, depending on their circumstances, which covers potential damage from flooding.

Below you can find information about what is typically covered by home insurance and what is covered by contents insurance.

Please note that cover varies from insurer to insurer, so be careful to read the policy details first before taking out a policy.

Buildings Insurance with flood cover:

Removal of debris inside the home
Drying out a property
Repairs and restoration to structure, fixtures and fittings such as the building foundations, electrics and plumbing
Fees for services like legal expenses, property surveyors and architect fees

Contents Insurance with flood cover:

Furniture, carpets, lamps and sofas
TVs, computers and other electricals
Fridge freezers, washing machines and other kitchen appliances
DVDs, books, and toys

Flood Re Scheme

If you live in a high flood risk area and you are struggling with the price of insurance, you may be eligible for Flood Re.

The Flood Re Scheme is a joint initiative between Government and insurers, with the aim to make the flood cover part of household insurance policies more affordable.

Unfortunately, not all properties qualify to be included in the scheme due to its limitations. This is something We strongly disagree with and we’re calling on Government to strengthen the Flood Re Scheme to ensure all residents in need are represented.

Who is responsible for your home after a flood?

Homeowners are responsible for managing the resilience of their home to flooding. While complete flood proofing is not possible, there are things you can do to reduce flood damage. This includes:

Fitting non-return valves on drains and pipes
Replacing wooden floors and carpets
Stocking up on sandbags

You can also learn more about proofing you home on the following websites:

Private renters

If you’re renting privately, contact your landlord as soon as possible if you experience flooding. Landlords are responsible for repairs if your rented home is affected by flooding, including fixing damage to the structure and making sure your water, gas, electricity, sanitation and heating are working.

It is tenants’ responsibility to have contents insurance to cover potential damages to belongings because of flooding.

For further advice visit Citizens Advice or Shelter.

Council tenants

If you are a Westminster Housing tenant or leaseholder please call 0800 358 3783. If you are calling out of hours, please press ‘1’ when instructed to be directed to a member of the team.

Local businesses

If you require support, please call the contact centre on 020 7641 6000 and state that you have been affected by the flooding.

If you operate a food premises and access bespoke support or assistance you can contact the City Council’s Food Safety Team at [email protected] or call us on 020 7641 1092.

There are also several websites and resources that businesses can visit to help obtain information to help recover from flooding:

Published: 12 July 2022

Last updated: 14 November 2023