Flooding in buildings

Abstract

Climate change will inevitably mean more rainfall and more floods in the UK. Integrated planning and more enlightened land management policies are required to reduce and mitigate the impact of the problem. Sources of information are available to surveyors involved in due diligence but surveyors need, more than ever, to be alert to the possibility of flooding affecting a property both from river systems and from surface water. Conventional remedial strategies following flood damage may not be the best approach. Properties that are prone to repeated flooding can be made more resilient by a range of measures. The prospect of higher rainfall calls for a rethink of important aspects of building design.