Farron: New Insurance Scheme Is Failing Flood Victims

The government's flagship scheme is failing to make home insurance affordable for flood victims, according to South Lakes MP Tim Farron.

A number of constituents have contacted Tim about huge increases in insurance premiums this year, following the effects of flooding last winter. It had been hoped that the government's Flood Re scheme would help to ensure affordable premiums for residents in high-risk properties, but this appears not to be the case.

One elderly couple in Kendal, for example, have had their premium raised from £225 to £800.41 - described by Tim as "an impossible sum for an 85 year old pensioner to afford from their pension income."

Tim has written to the Department for the Environment to demand that the government look again at the scheme, claiming it is "failing to protect those who most need it".

Tim said: "It is clear that Flood Re does not go far enough - the government must act now to protect flood victims.

"The Flood Re scheme was supposed to make insurance available and affordable for those who have been affected by flooding. Unfortunately, it is failing to protect those who most need it.

"Local residents who six months ago faced the misery and hardship of being flooded are now being hit with massive increases in their insurance premiums. The government must do more to look after these people, and ensure that they have access to affordable insurance. Ultimately, the cost will be far greater if people are simply priced out of flood insurance altogether, and face vast uninsured losses if floods hit again."