The government and Flood Re announced that pilots testing the certificates will begin this year in areas at risk of flooding.
Robert Stevens, head of property risk at Nationwide, suggested that a standardised approach to understanding flood risk could benefit a range of stakeholders.
“Flood Performance Certificates have the potential to become a really valuable tool for homeowners, lenders and insurers by providing clear, consistent information about a property’s exposure to flood risk and the steps that can be taken to improve its resilience,” he said.
Perry Thomas, CEO of Flood Re, said: “Flood Performance Certificates are about turning awareness into action. 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.
“We’ll begin piloting FPCs in 2026, with a focus on what helps householders understand their risk and take action.”
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FPCs are intended to increase the uptake of flood resilience measures and support the development of more climate-resilient communities.
The government and Flood Re also aim to establish FPCs as a trusted source of information, similar to Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs). The pilots will test approaches including a ‘Flood Performance Rating’, which breaks down a property’s flood risk into categories such as exposure, characteristics and resistance.
Floods Minister Emma Hardy said: “With our new Flood Performance Certificates, we are starting to give people the opportunity to access clear, trusted information in one place about the flood risk their home faces, so they can take steps to become even more resilient.”
Jason Storah, CEO of UK and Ireland general insurance at Aviva, said: “By 2050, a quarter of homes are likely to be at risk from flooding. Improving the flood resilience of homes is critical, not only for our customers, but also for insurers, developers and lenders alike.”
