Privacy Policy
This site collects the postcode you search to return a result, what you submit through the contact form, and standard technical logs. It uses cookies for essential functions, advertising and, with consent, analytics. It does not sell personal data.
This policy explains what is collected, why, and what rights you have over it under UK data protection law. It was last updated 17 September 2026.
What Personal Data Does This Site Collect?
Flood Risk Checker collects three kinds of personal data: what you search for, what you submit through a form, and standard technical logs generated by any website.
| What | When | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A postcode, address or place name | You use the flood risk checker | To find and return your result |
| Name, email address and message | You use the contact form | To reply to your enquiry, error report or correction request |
| IP address, browser type, pages visited, approximate location from IP | Every visit | Security, fraud prevention and understanding how the site is used |
| Device location (GPS) | Only if you tap "Near me" and grant permission | To find your result without typing a postcode |
We do not ask you to create an account, and the site does not know who you are beyond what you choose to submit.
How Is The Postcode Checker's Search Data Used?
A postcode or address entered into the checker is used only to return your flood risk result, and is not linked to your name or email address unless you separately submit them through the contact form. Location data is never placed in a URL or shared with advertising partners.
The lookup itself happens close to you, on our hosting network, so it returns quickly — it is not sent to the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales, SEPA or DfI Rivers in real time. Their published data was downloaded and processed by us in advance.
What Cookies Does This Site Use?
Flood Risk Checker uses three categories of cookie: essential, advertising, and — only if you agree — analytics.
| Category | Purpose | Needs your consent? |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | Remembering your cookie choice; basic site functions | No — these cannot be switched off |
| Advertising | Google AdSense, to show and measure display adverts | Yes, for personalised ads. Non-personalised ads may still show without consent |
| Analytics | Understanding which pages are used, to improve the site | Yes |
No cookie is used to build a profile of you for sale to third parties.
How Do You Control Cookies?
A consent banner appears on your first visit, letting you accept or decline advertising and analytics cookies before they are set — the banner never covers the flood risk checker itself. You can change your choice at any time from the link in the footer, or block cookies entirely through your browser settings, though doing so may affect advertising personalisation and analytics, not the checker itself.
Does This Site Use Advertising Cookies?
Yes. Flood Risk Checker is funded partly by Google AdSense, which may set cookies to show adverts and measure their performance, as described in our commercial rules. Where you have not consented to personalised advertising, Google still shows non-personalised ads funded by contextual information rather than your browsing history. Google's own use of data is explained in the Google Privacy & Terms site.
Is Personal Data Shared With Anyone Else?
Personal data is shared only where it is necessary to run the site or where you choose to follow a link elsewhere.
- Advertising partners (Google AdSense) receive data under their own privacy terms, described above.
- Referral partners (insurance and flood protection providers, labelled wherever they appear) receive only that you clicked through, via a
/go/redirect — not your name, email or search history, unless you then submit your own details on their site, which is covered by their privacy policy, not ours. - Hosting and infrastructure providers process data on our behalf to keep the site running, under contracts that limit them to that purpose.
- Data is never sold, and is disclosed beyond this only where the law requires it.
How Long Is Data Kept?
Contact form submissions are kept for as long as needed to handle your enquiry and for a reasonable period afterwards in case of a follow-up, then deleted. Technical logs are kept briefly for security purposes and are not retained indefinitely. Cookie data is kept for the period stated when the cookie is set, typically no more than 13 months for analytics and advertising cookies.
What Are Your Data Protection Rights?
Under UK GDPR, you have the right to access the personal data held about you, correct it, ask for it to be deleted, restrict or object to its use, and receive a copy in a portable format. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office if you believe your data has been mishandled.
To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the details below.
How Do You Contact This Site About Privacy?
Privacy questions and data requests go to editor@floodriskchecker.co.uk or the contact form, marked "privacy". We aim to respond within the timescales set out in our corrections policy for other enquiries, and within one month for a formal data protection request, as UK GDPR requires.
Will This Policy Change?
This policy may be updated to reflect changes in the site, the law, or the services it uses. Material changes will update the date at the top of this page. Continuing to use the site after a change means you accept the updated policy.
floodriskchecker.co.uk is an independent website. It is not run by, or affiliated with, the Environment Agency, Defra, SEPA, Natural Resources Wales or any government body.