Sourced UK statistics
How many UK homes are at flood risk?
Around 6.3 million properties in England are in areas at risk of flooding from rivers, the sea or surface water, according to the Environment Agency's National Flood Risk Assessment published in December 2024. Surface water is the biggest single source, putting around 4.6 million properties at risk, and with climate change about 1 in 4 properties (roughly 8 million) could be in at-risk areas by mid-century.
6.3 million properties in England are in areas at risk of flooding from rivers, the sea or surface water. Source: Environment Agency, NaFRA 2024, gov.uk
These figures come from the Environment Agency's National Assessment of Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk in England 2024 (the updated National Flood Risk Assessment, often called NaFRA2), published on 17 December 2024. It is the first national assessment to use a single consistent model for rivers, the sea and surface water, and it counts properties, meaning homes and businesses, that sit in areas with a measurable chance of flooding.
One important caveat from the Environment Agency itself: the new totals are higher than the previous assessment because the data and modelling are better, not because real-world risk suddenly increased. The surface water figure in particular is 43% higher than before for that reason.
Properties at risk, by source of flooding
| Source of flooding | Properties in at-risk areas | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Any source (rivers, the sea or surface water) | around 6.3 million properties | Homes and businesses in areas at risk of flooding from one or a combination of sources |
| Surface water only | around 4.6 million properties | The largest single source of flood risk in England |
| Rivers and the sea | around 2.4 million properties | Some properties are at risk from more than one source, so rows do not sum to the total |
England, as at the NaFRA 2024 publication (17 December 2024). Source: Environment Agency, gov.uk.
Properties by risk band
Most at-risk properties sit in the lower bands. The high-risk band for rivers and the sea covers 367,900 properties, an 88% increase on the previous assessment, again driven by better modelling rather than new building or worse weather. For surface water, about 1.1 million properties are in the high-risk band, roughly three times the previous assessment.
| Risk band | Rivers and the sea | Surface water |
|---|---|---|
| High risk | 367,900 | about 1.1 million |
| Medium risk | 323,300 | 884,800 |
| Low risk | 966,500 | 2,644,000 |
| Very low risk | 777,300 | not reported as a band |
Properties in England by NaFRA 2024 risk band. Source: Environment Agency, gov.uk.
What climate change adds
Using its central climate projections, the Environment Agency expects the number of properties in areas at risk of flooding from rivers, the sea or surface water to grow to around 8 million by mid-century. That would be about 1 in 4 properties in England.
The same assessment covers coastal erosion: 3,500 properties are in areas at risk of coastal erosion by 2055, rising to about 10,100 properties by 2105 if no further action is taken.
Check your own address, then your own drains
You can check the long term flood risk for any address in England free on the gov.uk flood risk service. It shows your risk from rivers, the sea, surface water and groundwater, band by band.
Surface water is the household end of this data. Rain that cannot drain away fast enough is what floods gardens, drives and ground floors, so the everyday maintenance jobs matter: blocked drains, gutters that overflow, waterlogged gardens and failing soakaways all push water where it should not go. Our drainage, surfaces and lawn guides cover what you can fix yourself and when to call a professional.
Frequently asked questions
How many homes in the UK are at risk of flooding?
For England, the Environment Agency puts around 6.3 million properties (homes and businesses) in areas at risk of flooding from rivers, the sea or surface water, as at the 2024 National Flood Risk Assessment. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland publish their own assessments, so there is no single official UK-wide property count.
Does being in an at-risk area mean my home will flood?
No. The figures count properties in areas with a measurable chance of flooding in any given year, most of them in the low or very low bands. Even in the high-risk band the chance in a single year is modest. You can check your own address on the free gov.uk long term flood risk service.
Why did the surface water figure jump to 4.6 million?
The Environment Agency is explicit that the rise (43% higher than its previous assessment) reflects better data, modelling and technology, not a real-world increase in risk. The new assessment simply sees risk, especially surface water risk, more accurately than before.
What does surface water flooding have to do with my garden and drains?
Surface water flooding happens when rain cannot drain away fast enough. Blocked drains and gutters, paved-over gardens and waterlogged lawns all reduce how quickly water leaves your plot, which is why everyday drainage maintenance is the household end of a national problem.
Methodology and sources
Every figure on this page is taken directly from the Environment Agency's published national assessment and links to the original record on gov.uk. Figures cover England only; the devolved nations publish separate assessments. Last updated June 2026; we re-check on each new Environment Agency data release.
- National assessment of flood and coastal erosion risk in England 2024, Environment Agency, gov.uk (published 17 December 2024)
- Transforming our understanding of flood and coastal erosion risk in England, Environment Agency blog (17 December 2024)
- Check the long term flood risk for an area in England, gov.uk
Cite this page
Source: HomesAndHedge, How many UK homes are at flood risk, https://homesandhedge.co.uk/statistics/uk-homes-at-flood-risk/ (accessed June 2026). Underlying data: Environment Agency, NaFRA 2024.
Editor, HomesAndHedge
Oliver Mackman is the editor of HomesAndHedge and is accountable for its editorial standards and sourcing. He ensures every claim is backed by a named source such as the Property Care Association, the RHS, the NHS or gov.uk, and that the site is clear about when a job needs a qualified professional.
Last reviewed: 11 June 2026