After a flood

Build Back Better – Flood Re

'Build Back Better' (BBB) is the process of putting in place measures that will make a home more resistant or resilient to flooding in the future.

Flood Re's proposition will enable the reimbursement (up to a limit of £10,000) of costs associated with Building Back Better as part of a flood claim, over and above work to repair damage and loss caused by a flood.

This can include carrying out surveys to understand the flood risk and potential mitigation, the addition of flood resistance measures such as flood doors, and flood resilience measures such as the replacement of damaged parts of the home with more flood resilient materials such as hard floors.

For more information on Build Back Better and to see which insurers are currently offering it, visit the Flood RE website.

Council Tax

If you've been flooded, you may also be eligible for a 100% discount on your Council Tax for at least three months. This is if your property meets certain qualifying criteria. Check with the Council Tax team if you qualify for a Council Tax deduction by emailing counciltax@herefordshire.gov.uk

Flood recovery grants

Herefordshire Community Foundation

In the aftermath of Herefordshire flooding, immediate straightforward financial support for people affected is available from Herefordshire Community Foundation.

This helps with urgent needs like the cost of living in temporary accommodation or for items people need to stay in their homes, for example, dehumidifiers. Grants of £200 are available for affected households. Larger grants are available for projects providing relief support for affected communities.

Please note that as these funds are intended for immediate emergency needs, Herefordshire Community Foundation can only accept applications up to four weeks after the date of the flood.

Apply for support from Herefordshire Community Foundation

Property flood resilience (PFR) 2024 grant scheme

If you experienced internal flooding to your home or business during Storm Henk (January 2024), you may be eligible for a grant of up to £5,000 (including VAT) through the PFR 2024 grant scheme. The grant is to help properties become more resilient to future flooding.

Grant details

The council is administering the grants locally on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

There are strict funding criteria which need to be met. Please check your eligibility, refer to the step by step guidance and consider the grant requirements before completing an expression of interest form.

• Grant payments will be provided once approved measures have been completed, and evidence of this is provided.
• A property survey may be required – this is to identify where the flooding came from, and the best measures to keep water from entering a property or reduce the damage water can do once it enters a property.
• Property owners will be responsible for arranging their own surveys and works (with approvals from the council at key stages).
• All works must have been completed by the end of January 2026.
• If a property has previously received a Defra PFR repair grant, then it is not eligible for another PFR grant payment.

Farming Recovery Fund

Defra has confirmed that the scheme that opened in April has been significantly expanded to include a wider geographical area of farmers who suffered river flooding (including Herefordshire). It now also includes those who experienced damage due to extreme rainfall. Eligible farmers can access grants of between £500 and £25,000 to return their land to the condition it was in before exceptional flooding due to Storm Henk. While eligible farmers will be contacted by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), they can contact the RPA on ruralpayments@defra.gov.uk or 03000 200 301.

Defra has published a blog about the wet weather and temporary adjustments to agri-environment agreements.

Flood recovery framework guide

Further guidance about the financial support to help households, businesses and farmers recover from the flooding caused by Storm Henk can be found in the government's Flood recovery framework guide.