Selling issues

[Nelson2222]

Hi we are thinking of putting our house up for sale. The issue we have is we flooded within the last 10 years. There was a human error where flood gates were not opened. It has never happened before in the 70 years the houses have been here and we don't anticipate it to happen again - we have put a lot of money into making our home a lovely space. Additionally the council have put flood defences in the general area. Other houses have sold in the street recently but I am worried having read online the amount of negativity towards this issue and people telling people to run. Online we are classed as a high risk area but so are many other houses which have never flooded either which I don't think helps. Has anyone else been in this situation either buying or selling and what did you do/think? The reason we are moving is for my work not as we are worried about flooding. Thank you.

The high risk status is about predictions of what water levels will look like by 2035. We viewed a house that had never flooded but was classed as high risk (a majority of the village was) due to its proximity to a river and scientists predictions.

Edited to add, we didn’t buy because it was to be a rental. The house insurance was higher which we thought would put tenants off. If it had been private, we would have bought it and invested in discrete flood defences such as a wall around the front rather than a hedge. It was a cheaper property, as were others in the same street, because of this. I think…a few in the area fell through once surveys came back too.

That said, they all still sold relatively quickly. if you look at the bigger picture, something like 30% of homes in England will be high risk by 2035 and I doubt the market crash.

There’s not much you can do about the situation or flood defenses though. People will either be risk averse or accept the defense measures.
It’s positive other houses have sold. What is your alternative anyway?

I know someone whose house has flooded twice in past 10 or more years. She says the houses in her road still sell easily. There is a shortage of housing in this country. I think you will still be able to sell. Try not to worry.

Thank you all that is a more positive outlook. Realistically 25% houses in UK are at risk from what I have seen...I think it is more stressful in that we have found a property that we both walked out of and said that is the one for work and growing kids...

I live in a very flood prone area and the property market is mad… people will buy if it’s desirable