NHF and members involved in new government taskforce on flooding

Flooding – the challenge we face

Climate change is already increasing the risk of flooding events in the UK, and that risk will grow over time as the climate warms further. The new National Flood Risk Assessment (NaFRA) found that around 6.3 million properties in England are currently at risk of flooding, with that figure likely to increase to 8 million by 2050 (roughly one in four properties). The average financial cost of flooding to a home is £30,000 and it takes an average of five months for people to return home following repair works. Beyond the financial impact, flooding also takes a significant emotional and psychological toll on those affected.

The Floodproof Taskforce

In January 2025, the Environment Agency commissioned ‘Floodproof: an Action Plan to Build the Resilience of People and Properties’, an independent review of property flood resilience (PFR).¹ This review was commissioned on the basis that further action and a long-term approach is urgently needed to reduce flood risk and impact. A corresponding Floodproof Taskforce was created with the recognition that a range of stakeholders will need to work together to effectively integrate all approaches to flood risk management. The Taskforce brings together that host of stakeholders and experts to feed into the main review. We are representing the sector as a leader on this Taskforce and inviting our members to share their expertise and experience.

NHF involvement

We have joined the Floodproof Taskforce because we know that flood risk is posing a particularly significant and escalating set of challenges for our members. Some of the key issues we hear about include ensuring tenants have access to the right advice and support, rising insurance premiums, data gaps, disruption to services, costly refurbishment, and difficulty securing temporary accommodation. Given the significant financial and operational pressures weighing on the sector, addressing these challenges and prioritising flood preparedness is not straight forward.

Through our engagement with the Taskforce, we aim to raise support and awareness for the sector and to help our members gain a clearer understanding of what’s at stake and what needs to be done. We are also making strategic connections with key stakeholders in industry and government, with the view that stakeholder collaboration and community-oriented responses will be vital in addressing flood risk.

As indicated in our new Business Strategy (2025-30), our involvement with the Floodproof Taskforce will set the scene for amplified engagement with climate resilience and adaptation challenges more broadly. We recognise that these interconnected challenges are only gaining in urgency and that the long-term cost to inaction is tangible and vast.

Taskforce aims

The Floodproof review will set out an action plan for both government and industry to improve flood readiness. This action plan will be committed to by the various Taskforce stakeholders, who are also being asked to help integrate resilience into the broader public consciousness to enable individuals to take effective action themselves. The review will be published in October 2025, coinciding with Flood Action Week (w/c 13 October) as a conscious push to raise awareness and inspire action.

NHF and flood resilience

Our engagement in the Floodproof Taskforce builds upon our previous work on flood resilience. We have produced an extensive Flooding toolkit, designed to help our members prepare for flooding or manage in the event of a flood. The toolkit is based on the experiences of a number of housing associations that have been through major flooding incidents over the last decade. It offers case studies, response timelines, template packs and top tips. It also provides links to useful flood information and warning services.

Get in touch

We are keen to hear more from our members about their flood-related challenges and best practices to shape our work going forward. Please get in touch with our Policy Assistant, Charlotte Rogers to share your insights, and to find out more about the Floodproof Taskforce and how you can get involved. We will be sharing updates as our work with the Taskforce progresses, so do keep an eye out for further details.

1. PFR is used to describe localised measures that limit the entry of floodwater into properties (resistance measures) or minimise the impact of any floodwater that does get inside (recovery measures).