Insurers to pay £446m to flood victims

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) estimates that around £276m will to be paid to around 9,000 home owners whose properties were flooded, £149m will go to businesses after 3,100 claims were received from this sector, and £22m will be paid to vehicle owners, with 5,400 claims for flooded vehicles received.

Loss adjusters have made over 6,500 visits to flooded properties to assess the damage, organise emergency payments, and get drying out and repairs started.

Otto Thoresen, director general of the ABI, said: "The flood waters may have mostly receded, but for many the distress of being flooded remains raw.

"Insurers and loss adjusters are playing a crucial role in the recovery process. A badly flooded property can take months to become habitable again, so insurers continue working around the clock to ensure that the drying out process is completed as quickly and as safely as possible."

Mr Thoresen continued: "While of course this was a serious and significant bad weather event the current flood damage costs remain well below the severe floods of 2007 when insurers paid out £3bn to customers."

Have you had problems claiming for flood damage? Email nicole.blackmore@telegraph.co.uk

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