| Extreme weather doesn't happen very often in the UK | | | | done detailing the flood defences done on their home. |
| but when it does, it's an insurer's perfect excuse to put | | | | This isn't an isolated incident. Many other householders |
| the prices up. After a flood, hurricane or any other bout | | | | in flood-stricken areas are up in arms over their |
| of extreme bad weather and premiums rise quicker | | | | renewal details, with most of them showing substantial |
| than a farmhouse in a twister. | | | | price hikes in both the premium and the excess. It's not |
| The floods which occurred in 2007 across the UK are | | | | just home insurance which is affected in this way by |
| the latest to make waves in the world of insurance. | | | | the floods; the insurance companies of several small |
| Many insurers are now refusing premiums to | | | | businesses have raised the premiums too, in some |
| householders who are deemed at flood risk - even if | | | | cases by as much as 5 percent. This problem is only |
| they haven't yet made a claim. Other companies are | | | | set to get worse as many of the new housing and |
| charging ridiculously high premiums and excesses to | | | | business developments planned over the next few |
| flood-risk victims. | | | | years are to be built in flood risk areas, meaning that |
| One couple who lost most of their belongings in the | | | | anyone buying one of these brand-new structures will |
| flood last year have been informed by their insurer that | | | | likely face higher than average premiums on their |
| their flood excess, previously £50, will now rise | | | | building and contents insurance. This is despite advice |
| to a whopping £25,000. This may be reduced if | | | | from Environmental Health about the dangers of |
| they pay up to £1000 to have a written report | | | | flooding in these areas. |