Flood-hit households given assurance that everything continues to be done to get them back in their homes
Floods Recovery Minister John Healey has heard from the Association of British Insurers about how insurers are reassuring those customers still in temporary accommodation following last summer's floods about when they can expect to be back in their homes. The industry continues to keep its customers with claims outstanding fully informed, and by the first anniversary all will have had a full progress report and an indication of when they can expect to return home.
Likewise John Healey is also ensuring that ahead of the anniversaries local authorities make sure their tenants are clear about when they will return home.
Later this month marks one year on from the first of last summer's floods and John Healey is keen that ahead of this all customers are clear about when they will fully return home. While on his visits to affected areas flood-hit families have told him that being updated on progress of repairs and knowing when they will return home has made a huge difference in reducing stress levels as it allows them to make plans for the future and get on with their lives.
John Healey recognised the efforts of insurance companies to keep in touch with their customers over the last year and welcomed their commitment to go back to customers again with a further update ahead of the one year on anniversaries.
Last month John Healey published figures showing that real progress was being made getting people back home - the numbers of households living in caravans fell by 40% between March and April - but around 5,650 households were still not fully back home by the end of April. He praised local authorities and the insurance industry for the part they have played in this and called on everyone to continue to pull out all the stops over the next few weeks.
Yesterday was the latest in a series of regular meetings and discussions between Government, insurance industry bosses and individual companies held since last summer's floods.
John Healey said:
"A huge amount has been achieved since last summer's floods with thousands of those affected back in their own homes. But I am well aware that this is little consolation to those who are not. That is why I am working closely with the insurance industry to pull out all the stops.
"While on my visits around the country to flood-hit areas many families have told me that regular and clear updates on the progress of repairs and knowing when they will return home is crucial. It cuts out a lot of worry and stress as it means they can make firm plans and get on with their lives.
"So the commitment by insurers to contact all their customers with outstanding claims to update them on progress and how much longer they expect repairs to take is good news. This means that ahead of the one year on date all those with insurance still out of their homes, living upstairs or in caravans will be clear about when they will fully return home. I am also making sure that local authorities do the same with their tenants. I hope they find this reassuring and it helps to reduce the worry that I know many households still face."
Stephen Haddrill, Director General of the Association of British Insurers, said:
"Insurers arranged for temporary accommodation for over 17,000 customers following last summer's terrible floods. Getting the very small number still in temporary accommodation back in their homes as soon as possible is their top priority".
Notes to Editors
Key figures provided by local authorities show that as of end of April 2008:
* The number of households living in caravans following last summer's floods has fallen by over 40 per cent between March and the end of April - down from 2,400 to around 1,400.
* Around 200 households are waiting to return to local authority or other social households - down from thousands last year.
* Around 5,650 households are not fully back in their homes - although hundreds of these are estimated to be able to use part of their property.
Full details are available at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/811463
News Releases: http://www.communities.gov.uk/newsroom
Published on: 2008-06-05
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