Flooding Minister, Dan Rogerson MP, joined Castle Point MP Rebecca Harris at a meeting of representatives from the insurance industry and Castle Point Borough Council to discuss problems residents have been having gaining insurance cover at reasonable rates for their homes following the floods last July.
Castle Point MP Rebecca Harris asked if the Minister would attend the meeting after she and local councillors had received a number of residents complaining they are having trouble finding affordable cover.
The main topics covered in the meeting that took place at the Castle Point Borough Council offices in Kiln Road were:
- Trouble residents are having finding household insurers to cover them
- High Premiums and excesses
- How residents and the local authorities can ensure that insurance companies can take into account recent flood alleviation measures and any measures residents themselves put in place to defend their homes
- How the Government’s new Flood Re scheme will ensure affordable cover for residents when it comes into operation.
Some local residents who had had problems with flood insurance were also invited to give case studies as examples to the meeting.
Castle Point MP Rebecca Harris said:
“This has been a real concern for residents and I want to thank the Minister for finding the time to come to Castle Point to discuss residents’ concerns with senior representatives from the insurance industry. .
“A lot of work has been done and is still planned by the various flooding agencies to reduce flood risk on our borough but I know a number of residents have had major problems finding flood cover since.
“After the Government’s Flood Re scheme is introduced, flood affected residents will find a lot more insurance companies who will be willing to offer premiums at reasonable levels, but residents still need cover until then.
“The representatives from the insurance industry brought with them a list of brokers that specialise in flood cover that I will pass on to all local residents who are struggling to find cover.
“These brokers employ specialist surveyors who will be able to properly assess the decrease in flood risk since July thanks to the work of the flooding agencies and should be able to provide more competitive rates as a result.
“The problem is these brokers are not normally using insurers that are likely to come up on price comparison sites so it is important that all those residents who can’t find cover are given this list.”
Council Leader Colin Riley said:
“I am very pleased that Rebecca managed to get leaders from the insurance industry down to listen to residents’ concerns in front of a Minister. It is bad enough to have been flooded, but to have problems with insurance afterwards just adds to the nightmare and people at the top needed to hear about these problems.
“The Government’s Flood Re scheme will do a lot to help Castle Point residents get insurance cover in the future and in the meantime I will make sure the list of specialist insurance brokers given to us is made available through the council offices for residents.”
Canvey resident Barbara Johnson, who has been flooded out of her property twice and was at the meeting said:
“It was a very good meeting and I want to thank Rebecca for arranging it. I had terrible trouble finding home insurance that covered me for flood damage after I had been flooded twice, but it is good to know I have options and that I will be covered by the Government’s Flood Re scheme when it comes out.”