Flood risk is not confined to homes beside a river or the coast. In October 2025, MPs highlighted the growing importance of surface water and called for clearer information about how communities could prepare and where they should turn for help.
The Environmental Audit Committee’s report, published on 13 October, examined flood resilience in England. It cited Environment Agency estimates that 6.3 million properties were at risk from rivers, the sea or surface water. Within that picture, 4.6 million properties faced surface-water risk.
These figures describe assessed risk, not the number of properties flooded during a particular year. The report also explained that improved modelling and data had changed the understanding of exposure. A newly identified risk does not necessarily mean that flooding has already happened at that address.
Surface-water flooding can occur when heavy rain overwhelms drainage. The committee said it was too often underestimated, with responsibilities split between organisations and insufficient coordination over drainage information and maintenance.
MPs recommended a single national reporting and information service, together with clearer accountability and an awareness campaign developed with local flood groups. Those were recommendations to government, rather than confirmation that a new service was already operating.
The report looked beyond individual buildings. Managing water across whole catchments, restoring wetlands, planting trees and using sustainable drainage could complement conventional defences. It also called for better resilience in new homes and support to adapt existing properties.
For property owners and communities, the distinction between preventing water entering a building and reducing the damage when it does matters. The committee’s argument was that both approaches need to sit within a longer-term plan, supported by reliable funding and practical local knowledge.
This archive article reflects the October 2025 findings. It is not an assessment of a particular home’s safety or insurance position; those depend on the property and its specific circumstances.