Kitemark for New Homes
The Government is calling for kitemarks to be introduced to prove that all new homes are built to withstand floods.
The Association of British Insurers want the Government to step in and encourage features like water-resistant doors and window frames to be used as standard within new homes.
The ABI plan to unveil a 'voluntary' kitemark at the Expo CO2 Climate Change Conference in Barcelona and explain that the Governments plan for 3 million homes by 2020 is in jeopardy unless they are more resistant to flooding.
The kitemark, if introduced would safeguard consumers as well as developers and insurers who have been greatly hit over the past year. Consumer's confidence in the ability of property to withstand flooding would grow and the developers could use the kitemark as a marketing platform. In addition, Insurers can then offer more competitive prices.
The introduction of the kitemark comes at a time when the insurance industry has already paid out more than £3bn for 180,000 claims after last summer's unprecedented flooding. The flooding has seen many homes so badly damaged that some people are still living in caravans in their driveways, while repairs are being carried out on their homes.
With low risk flood plain areas becoming more and more a rarity to find for developers, the plans to build 70,000 affordable homes each year by 2011 hangs in the balance and their ability to be insured will also.
The kitemark will ensure that all new housing will be insurable as well as withstand the elements.
If you have had a flood and need to make a claim, then perhaps you should consider employing a loss assessor.
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