Terrible internal damage caused by floodwater
All these 20 FloodSax came from this one easy to carry box
Contents of a flooded house in a skip for landfill
FloodSax soaking up a flood inside a supermarket
Average flood claim now £30,000 as UK insurers pay out £6 billion in 2025
Insurers in the UK paid out just over £6 billion in record-breaking property claims in 2025.
The figures released by the Association of British Insurers are the highest annual total on record.
Across the year insurers paid out £1.2 billion in weather‑related property claims - a 14% (£142 million) increase on 2024. Of this, claims for weather damage to people’s homes and possessions accounted for £758 million.
The cost of domestic flood claims rose by 38% to £312 million and the average flood payout to a homeowner also rose significantly by 60%, reaching £30,000.
In 2025 insurers paid out almost £3.4 billion across more than 560,000 home insurance claims.
Chris Bose, Director of General Insurance Policy at the ABI, said: “Once again we’re seeing the toll that increasingly severe weather is taking on homes and businesses across the UK. A record £6.1 billion in property claims last year shows both the scale of the damage and the vital role insurers play in helping people recover.
“Government action is essential to protect communities from the growing impact of extreme weather. This includes stronger planning rules to stop building in high‑risk flood areas and designing homes with resilience in mind.”
What is a very inexpensive way to deal with flooding?
One very inexpensive way to deal with flooding and escapes of water is to have a box of 20 FloodSax alternative sandbags so homeowners are ready for anything 24 hours a day and 365 days a year.
Once FloodSax are fully immersed in water, a gelling polymer inside absorbs and retains it to expand to become an instant sandless sandbag. Several can then be used to build a protective barrier outside to prevent water getting into the home or divert it down drains.
FloodSax are unique in that they are the only alternative sandbag that can work indoors too, making it incredibly flexible and multi-functional.
In their dry state FloodSax are very flat with a large surface area so the gelling polymer can soak up escapes of water, drips, leaks and internal floods even in the most inaccessible places such as beneath floorboards as well as underneath sinks, pipes, radiators and boilers.
FloodSax were devised by Environmental Defence Systems Ltd based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.
Director Lucy Bailey said: “The amount of money insurance companies have to pay out for flooding claims dwarfs all over claims.
“That’s why flooding is known as ‘the thief who takes everything’ as it wrecks all it touches from floors to walls and electrics yet all this misery and trauma can be avoided simply by having FloodSax which can be instantly in action to tackle floods and escapes of water.’’
FloodSax pay for themselves as they are way cheaper than flooding insurance excesses
On top of that, many people don’t realise that their insurance policies have a separate excess for flooding which is far higher than their general excess.
These days the flooding excess can be £500 for many policies, way above the average cost of a box of 20 FloodSax which is around £140.
Lucy added: “I hate to mention the phrase ‘small print’ but look carefully at your insurance policy and you’ll soon discover that on the vast majority there are two excesses – one for general insurance and a separate one for flooding and escapes of water.
“Prepare to be shocked when you see what yours is as many have doubled in recent years.
“The cost of a box of FloodSax is only a fraction of the cost of your excess, let alone the many thousands of pounds damage that flooding will cause.’’
To buy FloodSax online or find your nearest stockist go to https://www.floodsax.co.uk/buy/uk-suppliers/