Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the number of residents who are unable to access insurance through the Flood Re scheme as a result of living in (a) buildings that are subdivided into more than four units and (b) blocks of flats where the leaseholders jointly share the freehold but have formed a private management company.

There is currently no evidence of a widespread systemic problem for residents in accessing insurance, where they are ineligible for Flood Re. Tenants and leaseholders are able to obtain contents insurance supported by Flood Re regardless of the size of the block.

The British Insurance Brokers’ Association and the Association of British Insurers has established a Signposting Service, to help source insurance. The signposting service has assisted over 13,000 enquiries since its launch in September 2022. This is further supported by a Code of Practice for insurers which sets out good practice in dealing with consumers who are having difficulty accessing flood insurance, including communicating exclusions to customers.