How climate change could affect your home

Pick your location below to see local flood alerts and sign up for flood warnings in your area:

England

Wales

Scotland

Northern Ireland

Having a plan can make a stressful situation feel more manageable. A little prep now can save time and worry later:

• Create a flood plan and include contact details of useful organisations like Floodline 0345 988 1188
• Save key phone numbers somewhere easy to reach.
• Keep essential items and documents in a waterproof folder.
• Store valuables or sentimental items on higher shelves.
• Know how to turn off your gas, water and electricity

There are simple steps you can take to help protect your home if heavy rain or rising water becomes a worry. These small changes can help limit damage if water levels rise:

• Fit things like flood doors, air‑brick covers, or barriers you can put in place quickly.
• Check your gutters and drains so water can move away from your home.
• Keep important electrics, like fuse boxes or sockets, higher up if you live in a flood‑prone area.

If a flood warning is issued or you think your property might flood, acting quickly can help keep everyone safe. Here’s what to do:

• Move people, pets, and essential items upstairs or to higher ground
• Turn off water, gas, and electricity, but only if it’s safe
• Don’t walk or drive through flood water. It can be deeper and more dangerous than it looks
• Move valuables and important belongings to higher levels in your home
• Think about where water usually enters your home and, if you can, turn off water inlet pipes

If you live in an area that’s more likely to flood, getting affordable home insurance can be hard. Flood Re is here to help.

It’s a not‑for‑profit scheme set up by the Government and UK insurers. The goal is simple: make home insurance easier to get for people in higher flood risk areas.

Flood Re can help with:

• Making sure eligible homes can access affordable buildings and contents insurance
• Support communities and local councils to better prepare for flooding
• Help insurers offer cover that’s fair and appropriate for people at risk

For more information or to check if your home is elibible visit Flood Re.

If you spot any of these changes, it could be a sign the ground is moving:

• Cracks that suddenly appear or get bigger, especially around doors and windows
• Doors or windows sticking for no clear reason
• Gaps between walls and skirting boards

These signs don’t always mean subsidence, but it’s best to get them checked sooner rather than later.

Small steps can help reduce the risk:

• Be careful when planting new trees or large shrubs close to your home. Their roots can dry out the soil in summer.
• Watch out for leaks from drains or pipes, as water can soften the ground beneath your home.
• Before you add an extension or make other structural changes, get specialist advice. A surveyor or structural engineer can help you understand any risks.

If you're worried about subsidence, or you're buying a property that might be affected, you don’t need to figure it out alone. A qualified surveyor can:

• Check the property for early signs
• Explain your options
• Help you understand what repairs might involve

For more information visit Nalc.Gov how you can be more aware about subsidence.

You might want to get expert advice if you notice:

• Cracks appearing in sea walls or coastal defences
• Changes to the shape of the shoreline
• Signs of land slipping nearby
• New gaps or movement in patios, fences, or outbuildings

A specialist surveyor can help you understand what’s happening and what it means for your home

While you can’t stop natural changes along the coast, you can:

• Stay up to date with local coastal‑risk maps
• Check whether there are long‑term protection plans in the area
• Speak to local authorities about any existing sea defences
• Ask a surveyor to assess the stability of the land before making big changes

Stronger storms can lead to:

• Loose tiles or damaged roofs
• Fallen trees
• Broken fences or outbuildings

A quick roof check and regular garden maintenance can help reduce the risk.

Soil can shift for lots of reasons, not just subsidence. Heavy rain, long dry spells, or nearby construction can all play a part. Keeping an eye on cracks, leaks, or changes in the ground can help catch issues early.

Hotter summers can affect your home too. It could mean:

• Warmer rooms that are harder to cool
• Higher pressure on older electrics
• Increased wear on roofs and outdoor spaces

Simple steps like improving ventilation or adding shading can make a big difference.

With more intense downpours, drainage matters more. You might want to:

• Clear gutters regularly
• Check outside drains aren’t blocked
• Look for pooling water around your walls

Good drainage helps protect your home from damp and long‑term damage.