Commercial Flood Insurance, Est. 1976
Or call us FREE for a Commercial Flood Insurance quote
0800 085 3761
Commercial Flood Insurance
WELCOME TO COMMERCIAL FLOOD INSURANCE AT PROPERTY INSURANCE CENTRE
Property Insurance Centre, established in 1976, can offer you excellent commercial flood insurance.
Our partner, FloodFlash is at the forefront of a paradigm shift in flood insurance, providing businesses and property owners with innovative, data-driven solutions to protect against one of the most devastating natural disasters. Unlike traditional insurance models, FloodFlash leverages cutting-edge technology, including connected sensors, to deliver fast, flexible, and affordable coverage.
COMMERCIAL FLOOD INSURANCE ENQUIRIES: 0800 085 3761
Founded to address the increasing risks posed by climate change, FloodFlash combines expertise in underwriting, data science, and IoT technology to provide parametric flood insurance policies. Their unique approach ensures payouts are triggered automatically when floodwaters reach a pre-agreed depth, offering unparalleled speed and simplicity in claims processing.
Customer Stories
Customer Information & Case Studies
How It Works
How FloodFlash Is Different
The FloodFlash type of parametric insurance is different from traditional indemnity cover and it comes with some big advantages. Check out the table below to see how it stacks up against traditional insurance.
FAQs Commercial Flood Insurance
1. Getting A Quote
FloodFlash policies are sold via insurance brokers. We are a partner broker so please feel free to fill out the Get A Quote form.
Yes we can. FloodFlash policies are available anywhere in the UK (excluding Northern Ireland). We provide quotes in 97% of cases, regardless of flood history. On occasion the flood data means we may not quote but these cases are extremely rare.
This site contains information for customers in the United Kingdom (excluding Northern Ireland) only. Customers in the US can visit https://floodflash.co/floodflash-us/ to request a quote for businesses in America. If you are interested in FloodFlash but are based in another country, we would love to hear from you. Let us know where you’re from through our contact page. We’ll be sure to let you know when FloodFlash is coming your way.
If you are looking to cover a large or complex risk where you expect premium to be in excess of £50,000 you may be eligible for our service for large and complex risks. To find out if we can help get in touch via our contact page.
FloodFlash policies are for businesses. In the UK, a scheme called Flood Re plays a great part in protecting homeowners in high-risk zones from high premiums, but nothing similar exists to help the businesses in the same areas. That’s where we come in.
Absolutely. Please purchase the FloodFlash policy as you would your main business insurance.
Commercial landlords and tenants can buy a policy for their businesses. Residential landlords and holiday letters can also buy a policy. You cannot buy a FloodFlash policy as a homeowner for your residence.
Yes you can. We recommend, however, that you ensure you have permission from the property owner to install the sensor before purchasing a FloodFlash policy.
2. Choosing Triggers For Your Policy
Your FloodFlash policy is measured based on water depth, measured from ground level. It does not include water flowing into subterranean spaces like basements and cellars. You should carefully consider the payout you would need to cover damages to the contents of your basement in the event of a flood when setting the depth and payout amount of your FloodFlash policy.
Yes. You can choose up to three triggers each with a different payout amount. This helps cover multiple levels of flooding in a cost-effective way. If you think you’d benefit from more trigger depths, talk to your broker or get in touch with us directly.
Not at the moment. If you would like additional cover, or another trigger depth, you can add another policy at your property.
There is no problem in updating your depth/payout when you renew.
Like the payout amount, you should select a depth that makes sense for your business. You might want to consider the height of any damageable items, such as floors, electrical sockets and stock, and the level of any flood protection measures like barriers and gates.
We will always charge a lower premium for policies with a higher trigger depth, so it could pay to think about what level of water will start to cause damage and/or financial cost to your business and ways to become more resilient.
Remember that we measure flood depth from ground level outside your property.
The maximum payout that we offer with an instant quote is up to £5,000,000 per location. If you are in a particularly high risk area, however, we may not be able to offer the full amount.
If you require additional cover, get in touch as there is a good chance we can help after referring through to our underwriters.
You should pick a payout amount that makes sense for your business. It can be useful to discuss this with an insurance broker or surveyor, otherwise here are some things that you might consider:
- how much it might cost to make repairs to your property in the event of a flood
- the cost of replacing or repairing damaged stock, machinery, contents, etc
- the terms and limits of any existing flood insurance you might have – for example your existing insurance might have a very large excess (sometimes called a deductible) for flood damages, or the level of cover provided might be insufficient for your needs.
The payout from a FloodFlash policy can be spent on whatever you need, so make sure to consider any direct or indirect costs that may be specific to your business or property.
3. Sensor Installation
Your FloodFlash sensor will be installed by one of our trained engineers. After you purchase a FloodFlash policy, we will schedule one of our engineers to come and install it on the date you have chosen.
If possible, someone from your company should be present when the engineer arrives, to direct them to where you would like it to be installed, and to sign-off that the engineer has left the site in a clean and tidy state. Otherwise we accept written and picture instructions provided there are no access issues.
The sensor must be installed at a point that is:
(a) on outside wall of the insured premises detailed in your policy schedule,
(b) not in a drain, stairwell or other depression that takes the sensor below ground elevation,
(c) not on a wall that touches or abuts water, and
(d) your choice. Our engineers cannot advise you where to place the sensor.
The FloodFlash sensor is powered independently, and uses mobile communications to send any data. This ensures that a sensor will remain fully operational during a flood event, even if you lose power at your property.
We constantly monitor our network to check that your sensor is working properly. If you think that your FloodFlash sensor has been damaged, please let us know immediately by emailing support@floodflash.co or calling us on 0333 016 5466.
No. A FloodFlash policy is designed to cover external sources of flooding and our sensors are always installed on the outside wall of a building.
We rent your FloodFlash sensor to you at an annual fee of £100+VAT. It covers data processing costs along with routine maintenance requirements. Initial installation is provided at no extra charge. If you choose to move the sensor after the initial installation (either at renewal or mid-term) you will incur an additional fee of £75+VAT.
We need trained installation engineers to set your sensor up to make sure it reports data correctly for the right building. If you move the sensor without informing us we may not be able to use the data in the event of a flood which could mean that your claim isn’t paid. Please email support@floodflash.co if you need further details or want to request a sensor move.
If you want to change the placement of your sensor mid-term, this will incur an additional fee of £75+VAT. If you want to move your sensor to a different building you may also require a new quote. For more information, email support@floodflash.co.
In most cases, the answer is yes – though every local planning authority is slightly different, so we do recommend you check with the relevant one in your area if you’re concerned. Local planning authorities will often be looking at whether the sensor is a permanent fixture to decide if it counts as an alteration to a listed building; it isn’t and, in fact, it remains FloodFlash property after installation.
4. Policy Information
FloodFlash is a Lloyd’s coverholder, with underwriting capacity provided by Munich Re Syndicate 457.
Unfortunately, moving to a new location would require you to buy a new FloodFlash policy. Each policy and its premium are tailored to your specific location, so are not transferable.
Your FloodFlash policy is complementary to any existing insurance and should have no impact on any policies you currently hold. We do recommend, however, that you check this with your broker or existing insurance provider before taking out a FloodFlash policy.
We use state-of-the-art flood risk modelling, and high-resolution geospatial data to calculate the risk of flooding at your property. The risk calculation feeds directly into your premium, meaning that the cost of your FloodFlash policy will always reflect the likelihood that you are flooded. Locations with higher flood risk have higher premiums and vice versa.
The 14-day waiting period begins when you take out a new policy. During this time we are not liable to pay any claims that arise. This is to make sure policies cannot be taken out in reaction to significant flood warnings. We also use this period to install the sensor. The waiting period doesn’t apply for renewal policies.
We use state-of-the-art risk modelling to calculate premiums that reflect the likelihood of flooding at your property. In your quote document, you can compare premiums across different depths and payment amounts to find a level that suits your budget.
If these are still too high, you may want to consider investing in measures to increase your flood resilience, such as a flood management plan or flood defences. A FloodFlash policy can work in harmony with these investments to lower your premium. If you have taken steps which will reduce the overall cost of flooding, then you can choose a lower payout. If you are protected to a greater depth, then you can raise the trigger level.
One of our first policyholders cut their premium by installing 1 metre high floodgates on their building. The gates enabled them to raise their trigger depth to over 1 metre, delivering a policy with the same coverage amount for a much lower premium.
FloodFlash policies cover all naturally occurring floods, including floods caused by heavy rainfall or melting snow, rivers bursting their banks, groundwater and storm surge along coastlines. It even covers flooding caused by dams or canals overflowing or being breached.
FloodFlash doesn’t cover flooding due to burst pipes (sometimes called escape of water). It is likely that this is covered under your existing insurance, though we recommend you check with your insurance provider.
5. Claiming
You receive the payout for any lower trigger depths that were reached. The policy will still be in place for any higher trigger depths in your policy. If a flood were to occur at those heights later on we would make an additional payout.
In most cases, there should only be tax implications in the event of an excess (i.e. you don’t spend all of the money in your payout). The exact nature of any tax requirements will differ, in each case, however, and may depend on how you use the payout. If there is any uncertainty, FloodFlash strongly suggests you seek independent advice from an accounting professional.
A FloodFlash policy is intended to let you recover from a flood as quickly as possibly, and there are no restrictions on how you spend the payout. It could be used to cover immediate costs such as bills and wages, and to reduce the impact of business interruption, or to cover the costs of damage to property, contents or stock.
If a flood event occurs that you think should have triggered the sensor but you have not heard from us, notify us within 28 days of the incident either by emailing support@floodflash.co or calling 0333 016 5466.
We will issue the payout to you if we are satisfied that a valid claim would have been payable under this policy after considering the available evidence. For more information visit section 5 of your policy document.
If your FloodFlash sensor detects a flood at the trigger depth you have selected, we will notify you by email to confirm that you have been affected. We then process the data from your sensor in order to validate and pay your claim as soon as possible. There is no need for a visit from a loss adjuster or other damage calculation, allowing you to concentrate on managing your recovery.
6. Renewing Your Policy
All FloodFlash policies are annual and will need to be renewed each year to ensure continuous coverage. We make sure to provide appropriate reminders in the lead up to your renewal date.
We currently only provide cover for one event per annual policy. If you have a claim, you will need to renew your FloodFlash policy to restart the cover. You can do this by contacting us.
A renewal quote will be provided for you via us, Property Insurance Centre, your insurance broker, ahead of your policy expiry date. You can renew your policy by contacting us directly.
7. Cancellations & Complaints
In the first instance, we ask you to contact the team here at Property Insurance Centre. We wish to resolve your complaint.
Here is the FloodFlash Complaints Information:
We make every effort to provide a high-quality service to all of our customers. If you do have a complaint, please contact us by emailing complaints@floodflash.co, by calling us on 0333 016 5466 or through our contact page. All complaints that we receive will be recorded.
FloodFlash will refer your complaint to the underwriters of this policy, Munich Re Innovation Syndicate 1840 at Lloyd’s. You may also contact Munich Re Innovation Syndicate 1840 directly, by calling +44 (0)20 7886 3900, emailing MRSL-complaints@munichre.com, or writing to: The MRSL Complaints Team Munich Re Syndicate Limited, 1 Fen Court, London, EC3M 5BN.
If you remain dissatisfied, it may be possible in certain circumstances for you to refer the matter to the Complaints team at Lloyd’s. The address of the Complaints team at Lloyd’s is: Complaints, Lloyd’s, One Lime Street, London, EC3M 7HA. Telephone: 020 7327 5693. Fax: 020 7327 5225. E-mail: complaints@lloyds.com. Website: www.lloyds.com/complaints.
Details of Lloyd’s complaints procedures are set out in a leaflet ‘Your Complaint – How We Can Help’ available at www.lloyds.com/complaints.
If you remain dissatisfied with your complaint handling or if the investigation has not been completed after 8 weeks you can escalate the complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service. For more information, visit www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk.
Full details of how you can report a complaint can be found in your Policy Documentation.
A FloodFlash policy can be cancelled any time – however you will only receive a refund in certain circumstances, for example if you have changed address or no longer have an insurable interest in the cost of flooding. This will be calculated pro-rata based on the days you have benefitted from the insurance cover.
There is a 14-day cooling-off period at the beginning of your policy, during which you can decide not to go ahead with the cover. In all other circumstances, the premium is non-refundable and you will need to pay the full premium for your policy.
Do you have questions about commercial flood insurance? Be sure to call our helpful team (We are not a call centre) on 0800 085 3761
We have over 45 years experience working with:
Contents
- 1
- 2 Commercial Flood Insurance, Est. 1976
- 3 Or call us FREE for a Commercial Flood Insurance quote
- 4 0800 085 3761
- 5 Commercial Flood Insurance
- 6 COMMERCIAL FLOOD INSURANCE ENQUIRIES: 0800 085 3761
- 7 Founded to address the increasing risks posed by climate change, FloodFlash combines expertise in underwriting, data science, and IoT technology to provide parametric flood insurance policies. Their unique approach ensures payouts are triggered automatically when floodwaters reach a pre-agreed depth, offering unparalleled speed and simplicity in claims processing.
- 8 Customer Stories
- 9 Customer Information & Case Studies
- 10 How It Works
- 11 How FloodFlash Is Different
- 12 FAQs Commercial Flood Insurance
- 13 1. Getting A Quote
- 14 How do I purchase a FloodFlash policy?
- 15 I have previously been refused flood insurance – can you still help me?
- 16 I operate outside of the UK – can I purchase a FloodFlash policy?
- 17 Is FloodFlash for homeowners, businesses or both?
- 18 My business operates from a home office – can I have a FloodFlash policy?
- 19 I want to cover a rental property – can I use a FloodFlash policy?
- 20 I am a tenant – can I buy a FloodFlash policy for my place of business?
- 21 2. Choosing Triggers For Your Policy
- 22 What should I do if I have a basement?
- 23 Can I obtain flood insurance for two different depths to pay two different amounts?
- 24 Can I change my depth/payout after it’s been selected?
- 25 What trigger depth should I pick?
- 26 Is there a limit to how much my payout can be?
- 27 What payout amount should I pick?
- 28 3. Sensor Installation
- 29 Who installs the sensor?
- 30 Do I need to be present when the sensor is installed?
- 31 Where can I place the sensor?
- 32 If I lose power, will the device still work?
- 33 My sensor has been damaged, what do I do?
- 34 Can a sensor be installed inside my property?
- 35 What does the sensor fee cover?
- 36 Can I install/move the sensor myself?
- 37 Can I move the sensor after it is installed?
- 38 Can the sensor be installed on a listed building?
- 39 4. Policy Information
- 40 Who underwrites my policy?
- 41 What if my business moves premises?
- 42 How does a FloodFlash policy affect my existing insurance?
- 43 How do you calculate my premium?
- 44 Why is there a 14 day waiting period?
- 45 The premium I’ve been quoted is high, what can I do about it?
- 46 Are all types of floods are covered?
- 47 5. Claiming
- 48 What happens if I have a multi-trigger policy and I flood at a lower depth but the higher trigger depths are not reached?
- 49 Is any of my payout taxable?
- 50 Are there any restrictions on how I spend the a payout from FloodFlash?
- 51 What happens if I don’t hear anything?
- 52 If I get flooded, what do I need to do?
- 53 6. Renewing Your Policy
- 54 How often do I need to renew my policy?
- 55 How do I renew my policy?
- 56 7. Cancellations & Complaints
- 57 I have a complaint, what do I do?
- 58 Can I cancel my policy?
- 59 Do you have questions about commercial flood insurance? Be sure to call our helpful team (We are not a call centre) on 0800 085 3761
- 60 We have over 45 years experience working with:
- 61 Block of Flats
- 62 Unoccupied
- 63 Home Insurance
- 64 Residential Landlord
- 65 Land Liability
- 66 Commercial Property
- 67 Lockup Garage
- 68 Restaurant & Takeaway
- 69 Business or Shop
- 70 Classic Car
- 71 Mixed Use
- 72 Tradesmen
- 73 Commercial Flood Insurance
- 74 Or call us FREE for a quote
- 75 0800 085 3761
