To buy a flat in a block that has flooded

[Nellythephant]

Grateful for any advice !

I have put an offer on a ground floor flat in a converted Victorian house in west London, ticks all the boxes, 4 flats in building, basement, ground, first and second floor flats.

However, just found out that the building flooded in July 2021, main damage to basement flat, freeholder decided not to get flood insurance as too expensive.

Am I on ground floor going to be affected or is there anything I am not thinking of? Not sure how high water came up, but will find out.!

Thanks anyone who has any insight, seems safe enough but not completely sure.

AIBU - Yes buy it
No - consequences I am unaware of

EA seems very blase about it and says water never reach ground floor and I would be fine

Risk of flooding is one of my main considerations when moving house. I wouldn't even be considering it.

Meant to say absolutely NO way!

The freeholder may not have flood insurance because no one will insure it following the flood. I wouldn’t buy it.

Don’t do it. I lived in a house that was flooded and you worry everytime it rains, you look at the weather forecast all the time and the value will stay lower due to its flood history. I also think floods will become more common in future.

Save yourself the worry and potential heartbreak and get something else.

But it's not just the basement flat it effects if the flood water brings sewage into the building. Think a little further than the fact you might be above the waterline. All the flats above basement will potentially still be uninhabitable for health and safety reasons if the basement ends up flooded with raw sewage. And remember damp rises through brickwork like a wick. Seriously, as much as you love it, don't let the estate agent sell you a puppy! Run!

Conveyancer here - don't do it. Wouldn't be suitable for a mortgage without suitable insurance and you'll struggle to sell in the future regardless of whether it floods again.

Don't buy it. It seems like a good price because no one with any sense at all would buy it.

Absolutely not, if there was structural damage/ electrical damage affecting the building etc all owners would likely be liable for repair costs. I would avoid that one.

Ground floor is iffy, but I wouldn't rule out buying a flat on a higher floor of a building where the basement had flooded and the floods in July 2021 were pretty extraordinary - you may not have been in London then but if you google "July 2021 west London flooding" there is lots of information e.g. https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/environment/flooding-and-extreme-weather/july-2021-flooding-event.

I would say the biggest risk is that the block's service charge will be very high owing to increased buildings insurance premiums, and/or that the insurance policy will have a very high excess for water damage claims. You should ask for evidence of this before committing to buy.