Imagine being told your home is effectively worthless on the open market. For Christine and her neighbours in Trowell, Nottinghamshire, this is not a hypothetical fear but a grim reality, directly caused by repeated and devastating flooding.
A Retirement Under Water
Christine, a 70-year-old great-grandmother, had looked forward to a peaceful retirement in her bungalow. That dream was washed away in 2020 when a local brook burst its banks. Torrents of water inundated her home and those of her neighbours, Jackie, 67, and Rhona, 76. The damage was catastrophic: floorboards, skirting boards, kitchen units, and entire bathrooms had to be ripped out. Appliances and furniture were ruined, piled into skips.
While their insurers funded repairs, the Environment Agency (EA) conducted Property Flood Resilience assessments. However, as not enough properties were affected, the most effective solution—building embankments—was deemed too costly. The EA itself has seen its funding slashed by 50% over the past decade.
Instead, a cheaper, property-by-property approach was taken. By 2023, after Covid delays, the trio had flood doors, barriers, and pumps installed. Just eight months later, their homes flooded again.
The Flawed Defence and a Life of Vigilance
The grim discovery was that the assessments had failed to account for their homes being built on platforms. The defences only stopped surface water; this time, the floodwater came up through the ground itself.
Now, life is dictated by the weather forecast. During heavy rain, the women stay awake at night, fully dressed, monitoring flood warnings and a gauge on the brook via a group chat. Jackie has a meticulous plan to stack furniture on plastic raisers. The heavy flood barriers, which feel “as heavy as a barbell”, must be manually erected. This is the reality of being made ‘flood-resilient’ rather than flood-proof.
Residents are convinced the problem began with new housing developments upstream. The local flood authority confirms that once all planned builds are complete, runoff into the brook will increase by about 44% compared to pre-development levels. The brook’s shape means excess water creates a second river—directly into their living rooms.
The Crushing Impact on Property and Policy
The consequence is stark: their homes are now unsellable. Legally required to disclose flooding within five years, they face a market where buyers vanish. A study from Bayes Business School suggests flood-risk homes sell for 8% to 32% less. Jackie, hoping to move closer to family, may have to slash her price and use her pension.
Even finding a buyer doesn’t guarantee a sale, as some lenders refuse mortgages. While a government scheme caps flood insurance premiums until 2039, its end date and exclusions make lenders wary of properties destined to lose value.
This local crisis mirrors a national emergency. Guardian analysis predicts over 100,000 new homes could be built on England’s highest-risk flood zones. Climate breakdown is increasing extreme weather, with the EA warning 6.3 million properties are currently at risk, rising to 8 million by 2050.
The financial stability risks are significant. Post-2039, widespread negative equity and mortgage defaults could threaten banks’ collateral. For now, Christine, Jackie, and Rhona remain at the mercy of the rain, their lives and life savings submerged by a problem that shows no sign of ebbing away.
