THOUSANDS of homeowners living in properties that have previously been flooded are paying up to £239 a year more for their home insurance than average.
People who live in properties that have flooded before pay £437 each a year on average for their home insurance premiums, according to Compare the Market.
In comparison, a typical homeowner pays half as much, at just £198 a year.
Homeowners who live near water pay an average of £210 for their home insurance premium, £12 more than the national average.
There are also huge regional differences in the amount you will pay.
For homes that have previously flooded, Northern Ireland had the highest premiums in January, at £754 a year.
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Meanwhile, homeowners in this position would pay £669 a year in Greater London, £507 in the South East, £473 in the East Midlands and £446 in East Anglia.
For homes that are near water, Northern Ireland had the highest premiums, at £557 a year.
It is followed by Greater London, at £314 a year, the South East at £242, East Anglia at £239 and Scotland at £219.
Around 6.3 million homes and businesses in England are currently at risk of flooding.
But this figure could climb to 8 million by 2050 due to climate change.
In Scotland, around 320,000 homes are at a medium risk of flooding but this number could increase to 522,000 by 2100.
Meanwhile, 85,000 homes and commercial properties are at risk in Northern Ireland and nearly 300,000 in Wales.
But there is some good news for homeowners as the cost to insure a home that is a flood risk has fallen year-on-year.
The average cost of insuring a home that has previously flooded has dropped by 11% year on year in January 2026, from £495 in January 2025.
Meanwhile, for homes located near water the cost is down 10% from £235 last year.
Amy Rootham, home insurance expert at Compare the Market, said: “It’s becoming increasingly important for homeowners to understand their property’s flood risk and consider taking steps to improve resilience where possible.
“Always shop around and compare policies as this can help ensure you’re getting the right level of cover at a price that’s right for you.”
Meanwhile, we’ve previously revealed how up to 430,000 households are at risk of becoming mortgage prisoners due to climate related flooding.
How to protect yourself from flooding
HOW to protect yourself in a flood, with tips shared by experts at Moneysupermarket
Prep an emergency kit
Get all of the essentials that you need in the event of a flood and put this in a grab-bag.
The experts at MoneySuperMarket recommend including insurance documents, a battery-powered torch and radio, waterproof clothing and blankets, bottled water, non-perishable food and medication, a first-aid kit, phone chargers and any food you need for babies and pets.
Move your car to high ground
Make sure you stay on top of flood warnings so you know when you could be worse hit.
Then if you have time before the floodwater reaches your area, you can take your car to higher ground to save it from any damage.
You might think the machine beast can withstand a bit of rain but if the situation worsens it could end up found in a ditch.
Get insured
Kate Devine, home insurance spokesperson at MoneySuperMarket said: “It is always important to have a home insurance policy in place, but particularly if your home is at risk of flooding.
“Insurers cannot refuse cover for homes that are in flood risk areas, as long as the government still fund local flood defences.”
Inform your insurer as soon as you can that damage has occurred.
Organise evidence like pictures or video recordings of the flood and note down details like the depth of the water.
But don’t touch anything if you’re planning on claiming – your insurer will want to see how everything was affected so you shouldn’t interfere.