Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Other subjects

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Calling Surrey Laydees (particularly those near rivers).....

26 replies

ComeOVeneer · 26/09/2006 18:16

It has been brought to our attention (through the environmental search) that the house we are buying is in an area of high risk for flooding. Now I have spent ages looking for news reports etc about flooding but the last time there was a serious one was back in 1968. What is your experience of flooding as a problem in this area (primarily around the Weybridge/Walton/Esher area) ? TIA

OP posts:

Blu · 26/09/2006 18:21

I have no experience of this at all - but it is becoming quite a thing that they are expecting the Thames to rise and flood quite a bit, isn't it? But now that the Thames Barrier is built is the risk less?
I would have thought that a main issue would be whether you could get insurance, whether it will cover flood damage, and whether your mortgage co will agree a mortgage on it. What does your solicitor say?

Original poster

ComeOVeneer · 26/09/2006 18:24

DH is looking into the insurance and the solicitor (FIL) is continuing to investigate exactly what the implications are. TBH I am rather surprised at this as the Thames is well over a mile away.

OP posts:

Blu · 26/09/2006 18:30

In our area - also a good couple of miles from the river - underground tributaries sometimes come bubbling up into cellars. I suppose a flood plain is a flood plain. 1968 is a long way back, though.

SherlockLGJ · 26/09/2006 18:40

Well I know the river Wey flooded badly and I mean badly in 2000 or it may have 2001.

There is a carpark in Guildford is flooded by the river Wey on a regular basis.

SherlockLGJ · 26/09/2006 18:44

Sorry meant to ask, did you mean the risk was from the Thames or from the River Wey, but see you have posted that it is the Thames.

SherlockLGJ · 26/09/2006 18:49

Are you sure that the problem is the Thames ??

This is the relevant paragraph.

The Environment Agency also issued two severe flood warnings in Surrey after the River Wey burst its banks, putting Guildford and Weybridge at risk.

Blu · 26/09/2006 18:51

It was me who confused the matter by mentioning the Thames.

SherlockLGJ · 26/09/2006 18:52

Found these not sure how many are close to your new home.

SherlockLGJ · 26/09/2006 18:57

Right I am talking to myself, I am off to the PTA.

Original poster

ComeOVeneer · 26/09/2006 19:20

Sorry sherlock just been dealing with a flood (also known as bathing the children). Our new place is about 5-10 mins north of Esher (and south of East molesey) so I think any flood concerns are more from the Thames direction.

OP posts:

snorkle · 26/09/2006 19:23

Message withdrawn

Original poster

ComeOVeneer · 26/09/2006 20:29

Quick bump as am off to bed ( teething 2 year old for the past 3 nights) so if anyone else can give any info it would be really appreciated.

OP posts:

Lilymaid · 26/09/2006 20:45

My parents live in Weston Green (bordering Esher/Thames Ditton). There were major floods in 1969 - River Mole flooded, I think. Many houses in the area were badly affected. There have been flood prevention works since though

Eowyn · 26/09/2006 20:50

if you phone a local insurance co. they should be able to tell you.
used to deal with these things all the time but am happily out of insurance now, dh who is still in it said "hmm, the '68 floods.." -very helpful.

Lilymaid · 26/09/2006 20:59

Sorry it was 1968 (seems a long time ago but the area is in a flood plain). If you look at this you'll see what happened - most of the houses are the same even if the vehicles aren't!

snorkle · 26/09/2006 21:20

Message withdrawn

wakeupandsmellthecoffee · 26/09/2006 23:13

Thw river way flooded in weybridge area in or about the 2000 . it was awfull truly .

SherlockLGJ · 26/09/2006 23:18

Thank God for coffee lady,I thought I was living in a parallel universe.

wakeupandsmellthecoffee · 26/09/2006 23:56

I worked as a nanny in a house that flooded it was bad I had one of the kids living with me the rest were in various hotels every other night . It went on for months.

Blu · 27/09/2006 10:17

ComeOVeneer - that Environmental Agency link can give you a risk forecast for your exact rd. (but I found it a bit confusing to use - you have to click the 'learn more' button first, and then click on your road on the map)

Original poster

ComeOVeneer · 27/09/2006 15:34

Thanks everyone, will look at that sight now Blu. DH is now considering pulling out of buying the house .

OP posts:

robin3 · 27/09/2006 15:40

We discovered we were on the edge of such a flood zone and my Dad was very sceptical about our purchase...and he knows about these things. It's Surrey but not quite your area. In some cases it can affect your insurance premiums quite badly.

Anyway, talking to the locals and our lawyer who also lives on said flood plain it seems that precautions have now been taken so we were satisfied.

Doesn't stop my Dad from making lots of jokes about our keeping the rubber dinghy inflated!

Original poster

ComeOVeneer · 27/09/2006 17:46

Thanks robin3. TBH I'm not so worried about wehter or not we will actually have to deal with a flood, rather

(a) wether we can get insurance, if so is it hideously expensive (with a big excess to boot)
(b) will it being in a flood plain make it hard to sell in the future
(c) if it did flood would that mean big financial worries (in terms of rendering it uninsurable and unsellable)?

Other than the flood factor the house is perfect (location, size, schools etc etc). I don't think I could face it if we have to pull out and start again.

OP posts:

Blu · 27/09/2006 17:52

If there was a real strong possibility that I might have to deal with an actual flood, I would be very anxious. It isn't just a bit of water in your house, it trashes the electrics, the plaster on the walls, it washes sewage into your house, takes months to dry out and stinks, may damage the gas pipes, and water over 3' deep in a house will cause structural damage.

Have you called the comany who currently provide buildings insurance and asked them to confirm that they would re-insure the house under your ownership? (I have just had to do this, because we are pursuing a house that has had it's foundations strengthened). There may just be a higher excess for any flood related claims.

But if it's a very low actual risk of a real flood, I would go ahead - someone, like you, will always be attracted to the location, schools, house etc in future, just like you are!

Original poster

ComeOVeneer · 27/09/2006 17:57

Oh decisions, decisions. The house is a relative new build (5 years old), so no history of flooding, we haven't alerted the current owner to our dilemma yet as we don't want him to think we are about to pull out and so accept another offer.

OP posts:

Flip

1 2