Advice please - house purchase and potential risk of flooding

[arworld]

Hi all

We are currently going though purchasing a house in WD.

We just relived a environment search report and it reveals the house has a potential risk of surface water flooding within 25m

I know the vendor has previously experienced a flooding in the basement due to heave rain / overflow of drainage.

Is this something I should seriously be concerned about or is this quite common in the area? Any advice would be gratefully received.

Thank you!

[Carrie]

I would say that the majority of environmental searches that I see for properties in London show a risk of surface water flooding so definitely not uncommon! As long as you can get buildings insurance including flood cover on standard terms You should not be overly concerned.

[charliebubs]

I agree with what Carrie says. Also Enviro Searches are generally based on a post code area, rather than property specific. You could ask your Conveyancer/Solicitor to obtain a specific Flood Report for you. These are not expensive and more accurate.

Please also bear in mind that conveyancing has become so risk based for lawyers & search companies, they have to cover their backs. If they didn't say there was a potential flood risk, you bought the property & it flooded you'd be likely to sue them. It's the culture we live in these days....

[fl0wer]

Having endured a house with flood problems, I'll say do your research carefully.

Two questions definitely:

1. What sort of flood water entered the basement?

- it was rain, but was it clear, clean from a temporarily high water table? There might be a disused well, deep beneath the house.

- or was it sewage and mud laden? Foul problem and health hazard.

Climate change brings heavier rainfall, and the responsibility for updating Victorian street systems and overflows rests with Thames Water.

2. How many times did it happen, how deep was the basement filled, & what did the clear up entail?

Depending on what courage and resources you have, the hazard could be turned into a price advantage. The present owners might be having trouble selling and you could work your offer around what remedial measures are necessary.