Flood Re publishes JBA analysis showing PFR could save UK up to £740 million a year

Flood Re published independent analysis by JBA Risk Management on 13 October 2025, at the start of Flood Action Week 2025, setting out the potential reach and savings from property flood resilience (PFR) across the UK. Flood Re said the evidence shows millions of homes could be protected and the UK economy could save up to £740 million annually through simple, affordable measures¹.

The analysis found that 21.8 million homes, nearly three quarters of the UK's housing stock, are suitable for PFR based on construction type and floor level. Of these, 3.1 million homes are exposed to flood depths of up to 60cm, the range where PFR measures are proven to work. National uptake could reduce annual flood losses by up to £740 million, while targeting the most frequently flooded properties could still deliver £238 million in yearly savings¹.

Flood Re said formal flood defences currently protect over 4 million properties, but residual risk remains, especially for properties exposed to surface water flooding where 83% of properties remain at risk. It said flood risk remains widespread, with up to 11 million properties exposed and climate change driving more frequent severe rainfall. For more than 50,000 households, the cost of installing PFR is lower than the average expected annual loss from flooding. Typical costs start at £1,500 to £3,000 for entry-level measures such as airbrick covers and pumps, compared with residential flood claims of more than £67,000 (Aviva 2023). In Hull alone, local adoption of PFR could save nearly £20 million a year¹.

The measures cited include flood doors, non-return valves, raised electrics, waterproof finishes and removable kitchens. Flood Re said terraced houses, bungalows and ground-floor flats, often in more deprived areas, show the greatest potential savings when resilient measures are installed. The joint Flood Re and JBA reports also provide local breakdowns of flood risk and resilience benefits for Hull, Pontypridd, West Lothian and Kensington & Chelsea¹.

Why it matters for households

The figures set out by Flood Re describe where PFR measures can be used and what they are estimated to save, rather than any change to what households are offered. Flood Re said that without changes to policy, funding and awareness, millions of families will remain unnecessarily exposed to flooding. It called on government, insurers, lenders and homeowners to work together to make PFR mainstream, and said it stands ready to work with policymakers, insurers and communities to make resilience affordable, accessible and unavoidable¹. No new funding, grant change or insurance rule has been reported alongside the analysis.

For households in flood risk areas, the practical subjects are how PFR measures are chosen and fitted, what they cost, and how they relate to insurance. The site's guides cover protecting your home with resistance and resilience measures, property resilience surveys and professional installation, flood doors and flood windows, property flood resilience grants and home insurance in a flood risk area and Flood Re. Current flood alerts, flood warnings and severe flood warnings are issued by the Environment Agency and the other UK flood bodies, and the site's flooding hub and guide to what to do during a flood at home set out the wider picture.

What happens next

Flood Action Week 2025 features the Floodmobile, a mobile demonstration home showcasing PFR measures, at the following locations¹:

Flood Re said it will be joined on the tour by PFR advocate Flood Mary, who will also be opposite Old Palace Yard in the new Floodmobile between 12:00 and 18:00 on Monday 13 October for the official opening¹.