Commercial Flood Insurance
Flood insurance for businesses — what's covered, what's not, and how to protect your business.
Last updated: 2026-03-26
Commercial Flood Insurance
Why It's Different From Residential
Commercial properties are NOT eligible for the Flood Re scheme. Businesses in flood-risk areas must obtain insurance at full market rates.
What Commercial Flood Insurance Covers
- Buildings damage: Structure, fixtures, fittings
- Contents and stock: Equipment, inventory, raw materials
- Business interruption: Lost revenue during closure and recovery
- Increased cost of working: Temporary premises, overtime, expedited repairs
- Public liability: Claims from third parties affected by flooding at your premises
What's Typically Excluded
- Gradual damage or poor maintenance
- External landscaping and car parks
- Data loss (separate cyber/data policy needed)
- Fines and penalties
- Loss of goodwill beyond the indemnity period
Reducing Costs
- Install and document flood resilience measures
- Create and test a business flood plan
- Sign up for EA flood warnings
- Use a specialist commercial flood insurance broker
- Consider a higher excess
- Join a business flood group for collective resilience
Business Continuity Planning
A flood plan should cover critical systems backup, supply chain alternatives, customer communication, employee roles during a flood event, and recovery priorities.