Flood Performance Certificates: What Landlords and Renters Need to Know

Landlords and renters across England could soon have a clearer understanding of a property’s flood risk, as new Flood Performance Certificates (FPCs) are introduced through a pilot scheme.

The certificates aim to provide standardised information about a property’s exposure to flooding, its existing resilience measures and where improvements may be needed. Similar to Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), FPCs are intended to become a trusted source of information, helping people make more informed decisions about the properties they live in, let or invest in.

What Is a Flood Performance Certificate?

The pilot scheme introduces a Flood Performance Rating, which assesses a property’s flood risk across several categories, including exposure, property characteristics and resistance to flooding.

Assessments will draw on existing information from the government’s ‘Check Your Flood Risk’ service, covering potential threats such as river and surface water flooding.

The aim is to encourage greater adoption of practical flood-resilience measures, helping property owners understand their vulnerabilities and take steps to reduce potential damage.

For landlords and letting agents, the certificates could become another important consideration when assessing and communicating a property’s suitability. Although it has not yet been confirmed whether landlords or agents will be required to provide FPCs to tenants, growing awareness of flood risk could lead to greater demand for this information.

When Will Flood Performance Certificates Be Introduced?

Flood Re is leading the introduction of the pilot certificates, with initial trials planned for flood-risk areas during 2026. Further pilots are expected to expand throughout 2027 and beyond.

Looking ahead, Flood Re hopes app-based flood self-assessments will become commonplace, making it easier for people to understand their individual risk, identify appropriate resilience measures and potentially have those improvements recognised by insurers.

The initiative forms part of wider efforts to improve flood preparedness and support more resilient homes and communities across the UK.

Could FPCs Help Make Flood Insurance More Affordable?

Alongside the certificate pilot, the government and Flood Re have announced changes intended to improve access to affordable flood insurance.

From April 2027, the cost of contents insurance policies for eligible households in Council Tax Bands A and B is expected to fall by more than half, to £25. The change is intended to support lower-income households and renters, with insurers expected to pass the savings on to customers.

Flood Re believes that improving awareness of flood risk and encouraging preventative action could help reduce the long-term impact of flooding on homes.

Perry Thomas, chief executive of Flood Re, explains:

“By helping people understand how resilient their home is, we can encourage greater investment in resilience and reduce the impact of flooding on homes across the UK.

“Over time, we want resilience improvements to be recognised and rewarded, helping create a future where access to affordable insurance increasingly reflects the actions people take to protect their homes.”

Why the Property Industry Is Welcoming the Initiative

The introduction of FPCs has attracted support from across the property and insurance sectors, with industry representatives highlighting the importance of making flood-risk information more accessible.

An Aviva spokesperson emphasises the scale of the challenge, stating that by 2050, a quarter of homes are likely to be at risk of flooding. They also highlight the importance of improving resilience for homeowners, insurers, developers and lenders.

The spokesperson adds that improving access to flood-resilience measures is essential to maintaining affordable insurance for at-risk properties, particularly as newer homes are not covered by the Flood Re scheme.

Aviva has welcomed the pilot, stressing the need for collaboration between the insurance industry, lenders and Flood Re to encourage preventative action and help homeowners prepare for future flooding.

A property risk expert from Nationwide also recognises the potential value of the certificates, explaining that they could provide homeowners, lenders and insurers with clear, consistent information about a property's flood exposure and the steps available to improve its resilience.

A standardised approach could help people better understand flood risk across the housing market, make more informed property decisions and identify practical measures to reduce the impact of future flooding.

What Do Flood Performance Certificates Mean for Landlords?

Although the pilot is still developing, Flood Performance Certificates could become an increasingly important part of how flood risk is assessed and communicated within the private rented sector.

For landlords and letting agents, staying informed about the scheme's progress will be important as further details emerge regarding assessments, potential requirements and the role certificates may play in property decisions.

Ultimately, the initiative aims to move beyond simply identifying flood risk. By making information easier to understand and encouraging practical improvements, FPCs could help create more resilient homes, support informed decisions and contribute to a future where protecting properties from flooding is increasingly recognised by insurers.