Elevated Flood Risk in the UK and New Water System Reform

Each month, our data analyst Beulah Berrisford provides a flavour of some of the data she has been looking at that is relevant to our industry. After a very soggy start to 2026, she takes a deeper dive into the latest flood statistics…

In January, the government released a ‘once-in-a-generation’ plan to overhaul Britain’s water system, focused on regulating water companies, reducing pollution, and improving flood resilience.

Data Headlines:

• According to the 2025 flood report of the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, 1 in 6 UK properties are at risk of flooding.
• New modelling techniques show that the risk severity is higher than previously thought- in areas with a 1 in 30 or higher chance of flooding, there has been an 88% increase in the number of properties deemed to be in the highest levels of flood risk.
• The January 2026 Water White Paper aims to improve Britain’s water infrastructure with £11 billion of water company investment used to improve around 2,500 storm overflows.
• The paper also plans harsher punishments for water pollution – including the ability to criminally prosecute water bosses who cover up illegal sewage spills- so potential floods will cause less damage to property and the environment.

As these plans come into place in response to the growing issues with the British water system and the risks of flooding, it is important for commercial and domestic property owners to insure their property and contents against flood, and to ensure that their sums insured accurately reflect the true value of their property.

Article written 19 February 2026