Storm Bert: What can a survey say about flooding?

There can be very few more depressing sights in the UK than images on the television news of families and the elderly having to leave their homes after they have been flooded out, taken to temporary accommodation until the problem has abated. And we are seeing this yet again in certain parts of the country as a result of the latest storm, which has been labelled Bert by the Meteorological Office.

Some will say that we've always had flurries of storms, snow, thunder and lightning, but the fact remains that, while this might be true in the wonderful collection of weather that we Britons experience, the severity and frequency is increasing. The cause comes from an accumulation of problems but the principal driving force is the ongoing climate crisis.

With the soil becoming waterlogged without a chance to drain away, further rainfall simply runs off it, while the fierceness of the storms doesn't give the land the time and ability to soak it up even if it weren't so sodden. This means that water flows to the nearest exit point, which is usually streams and rivers, which then overflow into the neighbouring communities.

But what does it mean to the prospective homebuyer? The property they want to buy might look idyllic in more clement weather, basking in the sunshine, but what can you find out about the impact of flooding?

There are two steps you can take before agreeing to buy the property: first, line yourself up with a focused and experienced conveyancing solicitor, who will perform the requisite searches on the property and its environs to establish what the history is of flooding in the area, and what the assessment of risk of flooding in the future is likely to be. They will also report on any flood defences that might be in place to protect the town and property.

This will help to highlight whether there has been flooding before, but you'll need to order a suitable RICS survey, lining up a qualified chartered surveyor, who will assess the impact of any previous flooding and whether any remedial work needs to be done. 

When your surveyor publishes the report on the property, they will walk you through the findings and their recommendations. They will also highlight any concerns for the conveyancing solicitor to pick up and find answers to (for instance, by recommending a more in-depth flood risk assessment be carried out).

The result of the survey will give you an understanding of the property's structural integrity, as well as an idea for what to consider when the rains come and how much protection from the worst of it might cost you in the form of defences and ongoing maintenance.

Worried about a property that you want to buy when it comes to these storms? Or do you want peace of mind to ensure your current property is suitably protected and receive recommendations for dealing with storm damage and its severity?

At Surveyor Local, we only work with chartered surveyors who are members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, ensuring the survey you get is always professionally delivered.

They will work hard to identify all kinds of problems, including the impact of prior flooding on the structure of the property.

Where a survey does reveal any issues with a property, the buyer is then armed with knowledge that can allow them either to renegotiate the price, have the seller carry out the repairs or pull out of the purchase altogether.

That's where it is really worth contacting Surveyor Local!

Call  to get your no-obligation survey quote started, or to discuss your concerns with the acquisition of your planned property.

Or you can get a quick quote, using Surveyor Local's easy-to-use quote generator. Simply input your name, postcode, email address, phone number and an approximate value of the property (usually the agreed price), and we'll give you an instant quote for the work (with an email copy). 

We'll do the rest once you confirm your acceptance of the quote.