Water Damage Help for Homeowners in Hull

Why it's different owning in Hull

Hull City Council says over 95% of the city's homes are at risk from at least one kind of flooding, and its flood strategy notes that insurance here costs more than anywhere outside London. Most of the housing is terraced, a lot of it Victorian with solid walls, and those houses take longer to dry after a leak than a modern build. None of that should put you off, but it does mean a leak handled badly costs more here.

You can see the recorded flooding and risk figures for your own street with our postcode flood risk checker.

When water gets in

1. Stop it at the stopcock if it's a leak, and make the electrics safe if you can do so from somewhere dry.
2. Photograph everything before you move anything.
3. Ring your insurer, then ring us. Drying started the same day saves the most.
4. Keep damaged items until the insurer has seen them.

Our first-hour checklist has the full version, with every number to ring in Hull.

What the job involves

First the water comes out and anything ruined is stripped. Then drying equipment runs, usually for one to three weeks, while we take moisture readings until the walls and floors are dry. Only then do repairs start. The whole thing, from leak to redecorated room, commonly takes a few weeks for a single room and a few months for a flooded ground floor.

Insurance for Hull homeowners

• Leaks from your own pipes and appliances are claimed as escape of water.
• Water from outside, including drains and the sewers, is claimed as flood.
• If your home was built before 2009, Flood Re may sit behind your flood cover, which is why many Hull homes can still be insured.
• After a flood claim, ask whether your insurer offers Build Back Better, which can pay towards resilience work during repairs.

Read more on what home insurance covers, and download our free claim pack to keep your own record.