The UK has opened a consultation on changes to the Flood Re program that was launched in 2016 to assist property owners in high-risk areas to obtain affordable cover.

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Rebecca Pow says recent impacts from Storm Christoph have brought a stark reminder of the challenges from flooding, while last winter was the fifth-wettest since 1862.

“Appropriate insurance is an important tool in supporting recovery from flooding and helping people to get back to normal more quickly,” she said.

“We want to ensure that flood insurance is both accessible and affordable for people in flood risk areas.”

The consultation aims to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Flood Re and to support greater uptake of property resilience, with the scheme seeking to leave the market in 2039.

Potential changes include those flagged in Flood Re’s Quinquennial Review in July 2019 which proposed the ability to offer discounted premiums to households that have added resilience measures.

Measures could also permit claim payments to include an additional amount to help householders building back in ways to reduce potential flood damage.

“The changes proposed should help build a more resilient housing stock by increasing the uptake of property flood resilience adaptations and address the increasing threat of flooding resulting from climate change,” Flood Re CEO Andy Bord said.

Changes also include reviewing the levy and liability limit every three years instead of every five.

The consultation closes on April 26.