Advertisement
Become a member of the Big Issue community
JOIN
Environment

Increased flooding will hit England's poorest hardest, new research shows

The research also found that house building increased 50% faster in areas prone to flooding than in neighbourhoods with no flood risk.

A river flooding in the UK.

Just one third of the poorest households have contents insurance. Image: Pixabay

Increased flooding events driven by climate change will hit England’s poorest households hardest due to a widespread lack of insurance cover, new research has found. 

A report titled Housing Outlook by think tank The Resolution Foundation found just one in three (33 per cent) of the country’s poorest households are covered by contents insurance – leaving millions vulnerable to high financial costs following floods.

In February, The Big Issue revealed some of the most disadvantaged, flood-prone homes in England are still lacking protection against flooding.

The report found neighbourhoods with middling deprivation levels have the highest flood risk, largely due to the fact that the poorest neighbourhoods are found in cities, which tend to be less vulnerable to flooding. 

However, the foundation said 95,000 homes in the most deprived English neighbourhoods are currently at medium or high risk of flooding

Though not necessarily most exposed to flood events themselves, the research found the poorest households are most vulnerable to the financial impacts of floods, due to a lack of insurance cover.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Around two-thirds of the poorest households have no contents insurance, a type of cover which is essential for minimising the financial burden of recovering from floods. 

One in three of those who don’t currently have contents insurance said they would like cover, but aren’t able to afford it. 

The Housing Outlook report also found that housebuilding rates have been higher in flood prone areas than those without flood risk in recent years.

Between 2015 and 2021, neighbourhoods that have some risk of flooding from either rivers or the sea saw their housing stock increase around 50 per cent faster than those with no flood risk. Many of these new homes, however, were in areas where demand for housing is high. 

The government has committed billions of pounds to spending on flood defences across the UK, with flooding one of the primary risks faced by the country as climate change accelerates.

Yet while the Housing Outlook report did find a number of homes are now better protected, researchers said funding is skewed towards cities, meaning lower-income people living in rural areas may be missing out. 

The Resolution Foundation has called on the government to ensure that the next round of funding reaches deprived neighbourhoods in rural areas, as well as improving the affordability of insurance for low-income households.

Jonathan Marshall, Senior Economist at the Resolution Foundation, said: “Rising rainfall levels, combined with increased rates of house building on flood-prone land, means that serious flooding events will become much more frequent in the UK and that the number of people exposed to flooding will continue to grow.

“This is of particular concern for poorer families who are the least protected from the consequences of flooding, as they are much less likely to possess contents insurance than their wealthier counterparts.

“Tackling the climate change that lies behind much of this increased risk remains a vital long-term goal. But, in the meantime, policy makers must ensure new homes are flood-safe, and that flood defence spending is targeted in a way that helps these at-risk families. 

Advertisement

Become a Big Issue member

3.8 million people in the UK live in extreme poverty. Turn your anger into action - become a Big Issue member and give us the power to take poverty to zero.

Recommended for you

View all
Water companies' £158m fine over sewage pollution prompts fresh calls for nationalisation
A dripping tap against dappled sunlight
Sewage pollution

Water companies' £158m fine over sewage pollution prompts fresh calls for nationalisation

Sewage pollution levels in this river are 100 times safe 'limits'. The fight is now on to clean it up
Sewage pollution

Sewage pollution levels in this river are 100 times safe 'limits'. The fight is now on to clean it up

Lessons from the Middle East – 'the epicentre of climate discourse' – for a warming planet
Climate change

Lessons from the Middle East – 'the epicentre of climate discourse' – for a warming planet

A 'truly catastrophic' flood could be just around the corner, experts warn. We need to adapt – fast
Floods

A 'truly catastrophic' flood could be just around the corner, experts warn. We need to adapt – fast

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know
4.

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know