It’s predicted to be a stormy winter. Is your home flood-ready?

Puzzles Challenge yourself with today's puzzles. O ur first storm of the season is here. Named Storm Austen, severe gales, heavy rain and yellow severe weather warnings are all expected — but are your homes prepared to weather the storm? Almost eight in ten UK homeowners have not taken steps to protect their homes against extreme weather, despite 49 per cent being concerned about the impact it could have in the future, according to the insurance comparison site Compare the Market. Most commented 1 Where’s Marie Curie? 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Finally a travel trend I can get on board with Advice Lee Merryweather, a group manager for Aspect, a property maintenance company, says the fact our homes are moving from one weather extreme to another — from drought to flooding — puts extra stress on our buildings. “When heavy rain arrives, issues caused by extreme heat — like deteriorated flat roof coverings, cracked seals or mortar — can become routes for water to get in, while gutters and drainage suddenly have much more water to manage.” Advertisement Property newsletter Inside Britain’s most exclusive homes, plus what’s really going on in the property market. Sign up with one click You’ve successfully signed up to the Property newsletter Explore our newsletters An error occurred. Please use the link below. Property newsletter Explore our newsletters Regular gutter maintenance reduces stress on a home’s drainage system Getty IMAGES Even if you don’t live near a river or the coast, do not assume there is no flood risk. River and coastal flooding is well mapped, but surface-water flooding is harder to predict — and our increasingly frequent bursts of heavy rainfall can overwhelm local drainage and sewer systems . Top stories 1 High street banks are on borrowed time Saving & Investing 2 Belgium’s most stylish autumn weekend break — and it’s not Bruges Belgium A report by the insurer Aviva found that, in 69 per cent of parliamentary constituencies, a quarter more properties will be facing a flood risk by 2050. The total number of homes at risk from flooding in England is set to increase by 27 per cent, from 6.3 million to 8 million. Homeowners should understand the flood risk around their property and take precautions. Where there are known local problems with drains, culverts or waterways, they should raise those with the relevant council or water company. Here are some ways you can prepare your home. 1. Look for hidden signs First, do you know how your home handles rain? There may be subtle clues that you have a problem, even if you can’t automatically see it, says Marjan Kola, group manager for leak detection services at Aspect. “An unusually high water bill, unexplained damp or a drop in water pressure could point to a hidden leak.” Some 58 per cent of hidden leaks originated from mains water supply pipes, which are typically underground or outside the main building, according to Aspect. “If you suspect a leak, try a simple meter test,” Kola explains. “Turn off all taps and water-using appliances, take a meter reading, wait five minutes without using any water, then check it again.” Advertisement If the reading has increased, it could indicate a hidden leak that’s worth investigating before it develops into a bigger problem. Signs such as staining, bubbling paint or damp around windows and external walls can indicate water ingress. Remember that where damp becomes visible isn’t necessarily where the water entered. 2. Get insured Storm and flood cover are typically included in standard home insurance policies, but how do insurers differentiate between storm damage and general wear and tear, which would usually be disallowed when making a claim? Darren Black, Nationwide’s head of insurance, protection and investments, explains that its present policy uses the same core storm measures as the ABI (Association of British Insurers) definition; wind gusts over 55mph, hourly rainfall of at least 25mm, 30cm of snow in 24 hours, or sufficiently severe hail. “Those figures are not used in isolation,” Black explains. “Aviva’s claims assessors will look at the wider circumstances and the damage itself rather than simply relying on a wind-speed reading.” The nature and pattern of the damage is also considered, plus the general condition of the property. Advertisement El Niño is coming — and minister warns Britons should stockpile food Insurers consider many factors beyond just the weather when it comes to assessing flood damage Getty IMAGES While preparing for the winter, Black recommends keeping a simple record of everything you own. “That could be photos, receipts and a spreadsheet listing higher-value items, what they are, where you bought them and roughly what they cost.” This will hugely speed up your claim. Flood Re — a flood reinsurance scheme into which all insurance companies contribute — ensures that all companies will grant you a policy, even if you are in a flood risk area. For many insurers this includes something called Build Back Better. Under this clause you can get up to £10,000 more to install measures designed to make the property more resistant or resilient to future flooding. Check to see whether your insurer supports this. How to fix storm damage and weatherproof your home and garden Advertisement 4. Start at the top Roofs needing work are one of the most common maintenance issues they see at Nationwide. “People often do not notice slipped or loose tiles or deteriorating mortar around ridge tiles until bad weather exposes the problem,” Black explains. Having your roof checked professionally before the stormy season could save you a few pennies in the long run, but there are plenty of things you can do before deciding whether a professional call-out is worth it for you. “Look for slipped, cracked or missing tiles and crumbling or cracked mortar around chimneys,” Merryweather says. “Check flashing around chimneys and roof joints for lifting, gaps or deterioration that could let wind-driven rain in.” Roof drone surveys, which are available, can help you spot these . Pay particular attention to older flat roofs, where prolonged heat and UV exposure can degrade coverings, causing blistering, bubbling, cracking or splits. But looking up isn’t just about your roof tiles. Follow the journey rain should take, from the roof into gutters, through downpipes and into a gully, drain or soakaway. “The aim is not just to keep rain out of the building, but to move it away from the property effectively,” explains Martin Mackie, group manager for plumbing and drainage services at Aspect. Advertisement “Look for overflowing gutters, water running down walls, pooling beside the property or gullies that are slow to drain. These are early clues that your home may struggle during heavier rain.” With Kärcher’s £70 five-piece roof gutter and pipe cleaning set, you can clear your gutters without having to get on a ladder. Having your roof checked professionally before the stormy season could save you money in the long run Getty IMAGES 5. Check the drainage Don’t stop at gutters — check downpipes too. Leaves and debris can create hidden blockages. Mackie suggests checking for sagging gutters, leaking joints and loose brackets. “Watch them when it rains: overflowing water or water running down the wall means it isn’t going where it should.” Any persistent drips or overflow are a cause for concern, as repeatedly wetting the same part of a building can contribute to penetrating damp — an issue particularly problematic on period properties with bay windows, where faulty guttering or a small roof above can repeatedly soak timber windows and eventually contribute to rot. “Consider gutter brushes or downpipe guards where appropriate,” Mackie says. “Even without nearby trees, strong winds can blow leaves and debris onto roofs and into gutters.” These £3 gutter guards from B&Q can offer an effective quick fix. If you have a basement, lower-ground floor, lightwell or sunken entrance, check that any drainage serving these areas is clear. If you have a sump pump, check it is working and has not tripped. Check the street drains too. If a public drain is blocked with leaves, mud or debris, report it to your local council before heavy rain arrives. Replacement sump pumps — such as Titan’s £51.99 version, which can pump up to 14,000 litres per hour — are available from most DIY stores, but installing one from scratch will require professional installation and excavation. Floodwater can also enter a property through drains and lavatories. Consider having a nonreturn valve fitted to your drains to help prevent water backing up into your home, and keep an inflatable drain bung to hand to quickly stop the water from entering. An inflatable drain bung can quickly block floodwater from entering your home 6. Be are of subsidence What’s happening underground? Hot, dry weather can cause soils to shrink and ground to move, putting pressure on underground pipes and causing cracks or joints to shift. “Tree roots searching for water can exploit these weak points, growing into pipes and causing blockages,” Mackie explains. “Before wetter weather arrives, look out for slow-draining sinks, toilets or outside drains, unpleasant drain smells or recurring blockages, as these could indicate a problem underground that needs investigating.” Although it is primarily dry, hot weather that worsens subsidence, the sudden increase in rain can have similarly dire consequences on your home’s foundations. Subsidence is on the rise in the UK. How to spot the signs at home 7. Think doors, walls and windows The long, hot summer may have also caused window and door materials to move, making them harder to open and close, putting pressure on seals and joints. “Check for cracked or deteriorating sealant and gaps around frames before wind-driven rain finds a way in,” Merryweather says. “Preparing and resealing them now could prevent rot and a much more expensive repair later.” You can buy water-resistant mortars such as this Bostik general purpose mortar (£8.49) and breathable water-repellent treatments such as the Thompson’s water seal (£27.99) . With similar products available at many hardware stores, they will help to slow the water entering. Resealing doors and windows now could prevent a much more expensive repair later Getty IMAGES “But pay attention to whether those treatments are suitable for the construction of your property,” Merryweather warns. “Particularly if you have an older or historic home.” It is also important to pay attention to your air bricks, which can often be the first place flood water enters a home. You can buy heavy-duty air brick covers , but in an emergency you can create a temporary seal using aluminium tape — one £7.18 45m roll can cover many air bricks. 8. Have an action plan “Even if you consider your risk low, it is worth having a simple plan for the unexpected,” says Chris Savaker, group director of flood response and reinstatement services at Aspect. “Know where your home is most vulnerable. Is your home lower than the road or at the bottom of a slope? If water did build up, where would it be most likely to get in first?” Savaker recommends finding your stopcock and learning how to operate it. “If flooding is caused by a burst pipe or internal leak, being able to shut off the water quickly could significantly limit the damage. “Know where your electrical consumer unit is and how to isolate the power — switch off the electricity supply to your home. Do a quick mental