To buy a house which has flooded in the past?

[mostlyrain]

We viewed a house yesterday in a village we would love to live in. It's a desirable area and stock is low. This is the 2nd house to come up in 6 months within our budget. Anyhow this house is great. Needs some work as it's had tenants in but the only reason we can afford it is because it has flooded in the past. Once in 1968 and once in 2012. Seemingly a flood plan has been put in place by the LA and EA since. It's right next to a ford. Are we mad to even consider it?

Listening to that rain is very stressful. Monitoring the environment agency website to see how high the water levels are is not a fun way to spend an evening.

Yes, I agree. I am hyper-vigilant listening to rain, checking the basement, checking the basement window wells. I can't relax when heavy rain is forecast.

I live next to a renown flood area, and I bought it on purpose. I'm also an emergency planner specialising in flood risk.

We've protected our house with flood mitigations all around. I'm under no illusions about what nearly happened to us on Boxing Day.

It was worth it for us, but you need to understand the risk AND the impact.

wizard sorry it's you too. We have a little stream 10m from the house. Down a hill. Just sometimes it fills the garden. It's incredible how quickly it rises. We spend a lot of time clearing ditches and drains, which seems to help.

Yes, stubble is right

Risk = likelyhood x impact

We've been flooded twice - freak "once in 500 year event", then it happened again about 8 years later.
This is climate change for you. Freak weather will stop being freak.
And human made changes to the landscape often increase risks as well.

There is more and more pressure to build in risky areas, cover land and save money on clearing drains and flood canals. You may not notice it around your house, but the water may well end up there.

Dont touch it. It be hard to resell and you struggle to get insurance. Walk away!

Rule 1. Do not buy a house next to a ford in a flood zone.
Rule 2. If Rule 1 does not apply, apply Rule 1.

Don't do it!