Found out devastating news about house we are about to buy, Should we pull out?

[Welikethemoon]

We were all set to move, got everything in place, went for second viewing to show our daughters thier new house for the first time. Owner was there so I asked her about the flood risk which has come up as surprisingly high on the survey. She looked shocked and said she thought we knew it had been flooded twice in last 10 years but flash flood rain water run off and also before she moved in. She had instructed estate agent to tell everyone who viewed. We have had the offer accepted since April, estate agents just told me, sorry they "forgot" to tell us. Now don't know what to do. Thus was supposed to be our "forever" home, that had everything we needed. I have a very specific list of things I wanted and this ticks all the boxes, there us nothing else currently on the market that comes close. It's a significantly bigger mortgage than current place. I don't want to move again after this. Seller has said she has put in extra drainage since the last flood, but it hasn't been tested in similar conditions since so no guarantee it would work. Plus with climate change its more likely to happen.
Husband still wants to move, I'm not so sure. What would you do? AIBU to pull out now, risk losing our buyers and wait for a better house to come on the market?

I would. Fuck that.

I wouldn't, not a chance

Would you even be able to insure it at all/at a reasonable price?

I don't know how far along with the move you are but your solicitor should know about flood risks, it's a standard part of the buying process. Personally, I would pull out of a property with flooding history, apart from anything else, you may find getting insurance is a problem.
Good luck whatever you decide to do.

Nope. I'd not be wanting the hassle of sorting insurance for a start!

Also, I love the rain. I wouldn't want that to turn into something anxiety inducing because I was worried about my house flooding.

I wouldn’t but it either

Buy

pull out. sorry.

There’s no way I would buy that house. The potential for problems is enormous.

Also you’ll never sell it again (if you wanted to). Because people don’t want to buy houses that are a flood risk…

Don't - you want to be able to enjoy your new home. If you buy this one, every time there's heavy rain forecast you'll be on tenterhooks. For your own piece of mind, pull out. There'll be another house.

Wasn’t it listed on the sellers information form? Our property suffers flash floods from rainwater run-off and that was listed on the seller’s form. The house itself has never suffer water ingress but the garden does flood. It’s happened once to us in 5+ years, and there have been multiple flooding events nearby in that time. Our house has never flooded, just the garden. We’ve no issues with insurance.

So it depends on how severe the flooding might be, in my opinion. I’m not anxious about our house at all. I’d buy it again.

Nope I would pull out

Climate change denial is at its most unhelpful on a thread like this. Climate change is increasing the amount of flooding we are getting and this trajectory is expected to continue.

OP, I would pull out I think, unless this is an issue for the whole area and you can’t move away.

I wouldn't buy it. I couldn't live with the anxiety every time it rained. And the estate agent is a lying toad.

I used to work for the Environment Agency - yes, pull out. Don't buy a house that has a high flood risk. If it's flooded twice in 10 years it will almost certainly flood again.

The fact that it flooded from rainwater run-off doesn't make it less concerning than it flooding from a swollen river situation. Flood defence schemes can make river flooding much less likely - so, a street might flood when a river overflows once, but then flood defences might be put in and it won't happen again. But when it's rainwater run-off or drain overflow, it will probably keep happening - it's also much harder to issue advance warnings for that type of flooding. Tides etc than can affect river flooding in combination with heavy rain are a lot easier to predict, but flash floods from storms - not so easy. So you don't even have a chance to move stuff upstairs or take carpets up before the water starts coming in.

Also your insurance will be astronomically high.

The first thing to do is get an insurance quote. If the quote is sky high or noone will insure it that gives you pause for thought.

I own a house that was almost, but wasn't, flooded by a drain failure in a field above the property. It was fixed by the land owner but now I can't get flood cover. I don't care because the house wasn't flooded and the problem has been fixed. Your situation sounds more complicated.

There is river flooding and surface water flooding. It sounds like you're saying the property has been affected by both?

Weather patterns are changing, with heavier rain in winter and more short intense storms in summer so yes, if the property has been flooded before AND NO CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE there is high chance of it happening again. You need to understand what 'defences' have been put in place.

As per my example you might find it's a risk worth taking. Or, there may be things that can be done to protect the property. But, getting some more info and advice would be very sensible. Have a look for a local flood forum, they might have area specific details.

This is my line of work so happy to answer any questions you have or help interpret info you receive.

For starters it massively devalues a house, so unless you thought you were getting a bargain I'd be rethinking the offer at least. Is there enough space up stars to store all your things in a storm.

Otherwise it depends on your financial situation. Can you afford the higher insurance? Are you secure enough that you're unlikely to need (rather than want) to move? If the flooding gets worse could you end up in negative equity? If flood damage makes it temporarily/permanently uninhabitable what's your plan? Can you afford to replace downstairs furnishings after flooding?

Personally I wouldn't, unless I had a lot more money than I do, so without a big mortgage. But if you're financially secure enough to accept the risk, and don't plan to sell, it could work.

I d look at why its flooding, surface water can be re directed, which we did to a flood prone property a few years ago, turned out a drain up stream of the house had been blocked to prevent a lane from flooding, council then fixed, all fine.

Water entry points can also be sealed from run off.

Ground water rises or that from a river is a totally different problem.

However, insurance may be an issue, ask the current owner what she has and how much.

You could also speak to the EA, see if they are going to address.

I'm fairly sure it's illegal for the estate agent to not tell you. My sister had a house a couple of years ago that was flooded and she was told that it would be illegal for the people buying the house not to know?

You would be crazy to buy it. Even if the run off was caused by specific issues which have been resolved, nobody would ever buy it from you when you want to sell.

twice in the last ten years is a lot. I might well pull out, it would depend on the price and my other options.

I know some people furnish based on the known risk of floods so cheaper furniture downstairs no sentimental / irreplaceable items downstairs etc.

If in doubt call a reputable insurance company and get a quote. I suspect it will be very high. Perhaps it will help with the decision process

I’d be seriously concerned because twice in 10 years is a lot.

A house might not be expected to resist a flood which was of a 1 in 100 year severity, but 2 floods in 10 years indicates that the house can’t withstand flooding of much lower severity than that. What it means is that the house is vulnerable to flooding in not particularly unusual levels of rainfall.

I wouldn’t touch it with a barge pole TBH and I’d be worried about the cost of insurance or even whether it could be insured. Flood Re does provide a government scheme for houses liable to flood but not all homes are eligible.