Property Flood Resilience Grants: What Funding Exists And Who Actually Qualifies

Status checked 17 September 2026. The most recent scheme we could verify was for Storm Babet (October 2023), and at least one council reports its 2023 scheme is now closed. Check your council's website for anything newer.

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Is There A Grant For Flood Protection In The UK?

We found no standing, national grant for flood protection that any homeowner at flood risk can apply for. In England, the government opens the Property Flood Resilience Repair Grant only after exceptional flooding, for homes that flooded in that event, and councils run it.

The funding routes that exist:

The government describes the Flood Recovery Framework as a scheme the Flood Recovery Framework, which is used in exceptional circumstances, such as exceptional localised flooding.

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What Is The Property Flood Resilience Repair Grant Scheme?

The Property Flood Resilience Repair Grant Scheme is government funding, administered by councils, that helps flooded property owners pay for measures to reduce damage from future floods. When announced on 25 October 2023, the government stated: "Eligible flood-hit property owners will be able to apply for up to £5,000 to help make their homes and businesses more resilient to future flooding via the Property Flood Resilience Repair Grant Scheme."

How the scheme has worked, using Suffolk County Council's published guidance for the 2023 scheme:

The same framework has offered other help after floods, including: Flooded households in affected areas can apply for up to £500, for immediate costs.

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Who Qualifies For A Flood Resilience Grant?

You qualify for a Property Flood Resilience Repair Grant only if your property flooded internally during the specific event the scheme was opened for, in an area where it applies. Suffolk's 2023 guidance states: "Grants are only available to people who suffered internal flood damage to their homes or businesses during Storm Babet (between 19-25 October 2023)."

Typical eligibility, from council guidance:

1. Internal flooding of the home or business, not just the garden or road.
2. During the named event's dates.
3. In a council area where the scheme was activated.
4. Within the application deadline. Suffolk reports: "Applications for the DEFRA PFR scheme (2023) are now closed."

A home at High flood risk that did not flood in a qualifying event does not qualify, however high its risk. That is why most people who search for this grant find they cannot apply.

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What Is Flood Re's Build Back Better?

Build Back Better is a Flood Re option that lets an insurer pay for flood resilience during repairs after a flood claim, in addition to fixing the damage. It is the route that does not depend on the government opening a scheme, but it depends on your insurer offering it.

What Build Back Better provides:

• Up to £10,000, though Not necessarily – each Insurer sets their own limit.
• Measures such as carrying out surveys to understand the flood risk and potential mitigation, the addition of flood resistance measures such as flood doors, and flood resilience measures such as the replacement of damaged parts of the home with more flood resilient materials such as hard floors.
• Ask before buying a policy: Flood Re advises you to speak to your broker or insurer before committing to purchase your policy.

Take-up has been low: the Environment Agency's FloodReady review reports that only around one-third of eligible policyholders accept the BBB offer. More on the scheme is in Flood Re.

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What Can Grant Funding Be Spent On?

Grant funding can be spent on a property flood resilience survey and on the measures that survey recommends, which must either keep water out or limit damage once it gets in. Suffolk's guidance states the funded PFR measures must either keep water from entering a property or reduce the damage water can do once it enters a property.

Measures typically covered:

What each measure does and costs is set out in flood barriers, anti-flood air bricks and sump pumps.

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How Do You Apply?

You apply for a Property Flood Resilience Repair Grant through your council, once it opens a scheme after a qualifying flood. The government said: "Support will be available through councils who will announce further details on eligibility and how to apply."

The steps, following council guidance for the 2023 scheme:

1. Report the flooding to your council, if you have not already.
2. Speak to your insurer about repairs and whether Build Back Better is available.
3. Check your council's website for an open scheme, its dates and deadline.
4. Commission a survey from a surveyor with CIWEM property flood resilience training.
5. Submit the application with the survey and quotes for recommended measures.
6. Install the approved measures using your chosen contractor.
7. Claim the grant with proof of installation and invoices; payment is made afterwards.

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What If No Grant Is Available To You?

If no grant is available, you can still protect a home by choosing the measures with the most value for its flood source, using Build Back Better after any future claim, and asking whether a community scheme is planned for your area. Start with the low-cost measures that close the main entry routes.

Where to go next:

• Plan by cost and source in property flood resilience, which ranks measures from the cheapest upwards.
• Ask your council or lead local flood authority whether a community property flood resilience scheme is planned.
• Check your insurance for Build Back Better before renewing.
• Check your flood risk band at check the flood risk of any UK postcode, because protection spending makes most sense at Medium or High risk.

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Sources (Verified 17 Sep 2026)