England to pilot flood-risk certificates for homes
The proposed certificates would give households, insurers and lenders a standardised view of a property's exposure and resilience measures.
England will begin testing Flood Performance Certificates in 2026, aiming to give homeowners a clearer, standardised account of a property's flood exposure and resilience. The government and Flood Re announced the pilot on 13 October.
The proposed rating would separate factors such as exposure, property characteristics and resistance measures. It would draw on existing flood-risk information and could record changes including self-closing air bricks, barriers and flood-resilient kitchens.
Pilot work is due to begin in at-risk areas this year and expand during 2027. Flood Re's longer-term ambition is to make app-based self-assessment routine and, where evidence supports it, help insurers recognise improvements made by households.
The announcement is a pilot rather than a new nationwide requirement. It does not guarantee lower premiums: insurers and lenders would still make their own assessments. Its value will depend on consistent ratings, trusted data and whether households can afford the recommended measures.