Property flood resilience still held back by evidence gaps, government-backed research warns

Property flood resilience (PFR) measures could play a far greater role in helping communities adapt to rising flood risk across the UK, but major gaps in evidence, public understanding and long-term performance data continue to limit uptake, according to government-backed research.

The findings emerge from a series of Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) research reports examining how homes and businesses can better prepare for increasingly frequent flooding linked to climate change. The research, published through the UK Government’s FCERM research programme, highlights the growing importance of measures designed not only to keep water out of buildings, but also to reduce damage and accelerate recovery when flooding occurs. Experts involved in the work argue that the UK must move beyond a traditional “defence only” approach and adopt a more resilient model that accepts some flooding events will become unavoidable.

Shift towards resilience

Property flood resilience typically falls into two categories: resistance measures, which aim to prevent water entering a building, and resilience measures, which minimise damage if water does get inside.

Examples include flood doors, removable barriers and airbrick covers, alongside resilient materials such as tiled flooring, raised electrical sockets, waterproof plaster and water-resistant kitchen fittings.

The research suggests that while many conventional flood protection schemes remain essential, property-level resilience measures can significantly reduce recovery times and lower long-term economic losses.

In areas affected by repeated flooding, recovery speed is increasingly seen as one of the strongest arguments for investment in PFR.

According to the evidence reviewed, resilient properties can often return to normal occupation weeks or months earlier than homes repaired using traditional methods.

Researchers also noted wider benefits including reduced disruption to local economies, improved mental wellbeing for affected residents and greater confidence among insurers and mortgage lenders.

Climate pressures increasing urgency

The reports arrive amid growing concern over the long-term impact of climate change on flood risk across England and Wales.

Surface water flooding, intense rainfall events and pressure on ageing drainage infrastructure are all expected to increase over coming decades.

The Environment Agency has previously warned that millions of properties could face some level of flood risk by mid-century without significant adaptation measures.

Against that backdrop, researchers say PFR is becoming an increasingly important part of national adaptation planning.

However, despite years of policy discussion and pilot schemes, adoption rates among householders remain relatively low.

Barriers to uptake

The research identifies several persistent barriers preventing wider use of property flood resilience measures.

Cost remains one of the largest obstacles, particularly for households facing repeated flooding but lacking access to grant funding or insurance support.

Researchers also found that many property owners remain uncertain about which products are effective, how long they last and whether they will provide value for money.

The evidence review points to inconsistent standards and fragmented guidance across the sector, which can create confusion for both consumers and installers.

A lack of long-term performance data was highlighted as a particular weakness.

While some products have been tested under controlled conditions, researchers said there is still limited evidence on how many systems perform after years of use, repeated flood events or poor maintenance.

The reports also identify behavioural challenges.

In some cases, residents may delay installation because flooding is perceived as a rare event, while others may struggle to navigate the complexity of available products and funding schemes.

Evidence gaps remain

One of the central conclusions from the research is that the UK still lacks a sufficiently robust evidence base in several critical areas.

Researchers identified the need for more long-term monitoring of installed resilience measures, particularly across different property types and flood conditions.

The reports also call for better understanding of how PFR performs during surface water flooding compared with river or coastal flooding.

Further work is recommended on the social impacts of flooding and whether vulnerable households are being disproportionately excluded from resilience improvements.

Insurance incentives were also highlighted as an area requiring closer examination.

While initiatives such as Flood Re have increased discussion around resilience-linked insurance, researchers suggest more evidence is needed on how insurers could encourage wider adoption of resilient repair and retrofit measures.