Why am I a flood risk?

FLOOD RISK Quay resident, Evleen Mulloy, was refused coverage by four leading companies.


Westport homeowner refused cover

Áine Ryan

FOUR leading Irish insurance companies have refused to cover a house at Westport Quay because of a possible flood risk, despite the fact that it has never flooded. Axa, Aviva, Post and Liberty Insurance have cited this risk as a reason for not covering Ms Evleen Mulloy whose home, The Clog Factory, is situated just beyond the entrance to the town’s Greenway. Fortunately, Westport Credit Union has now agreed to insure her, albeit without a flood clause, after a local broker also failed to identify any company.  
Ms Mulloy told The Mayo News yesterday (Monday) that she was very disappointed and baffled about Liberty Insurance’s cancellation of her policy, She said she is happy that the Credit Union has ultimately covered her property, which she believes does not need flood-risk coverage.  
“As a loyal customer of Liberty Insurance over the last five years, I am very disappointed that they have declined to reinsure my house. They say I am a flood risk even though my home, and property has never been flooded or come close to it. They told me the information was based on an expert assessment but declined to elaborate because of ‘commercial sensitivity’. Well, I feel that this information is commercially sensitive to me as without it I cannot take the assessed measures to protect my house,” Ms Mulloy said.   
Bizarrely, Ms Mulloy has confirmed her property is not included in the OPW’s (Office of Public Works) Flood Hazard Maps, part of a Government initiative established in 2003 after a spell of serious flooding in the winter of 2002.    
“The OPW has done a flood risk on properties all around the Quay area  and have identified the areas liable for flooding and the level of risk. They have not included my house on their map as being of risk,” Ms Mulloy explained.

‘Heightened risk’
IN a letter, seen by The Mayo News, and sent to Liberty Insurance on Friday last, June 9, Ms Mulloy writes: “ … [Your] company has informed me that I am at risk of flooding, a ‘heightened risk’. Floods can be very dangerous and the possibility of being flooded fills me with alarm. I have studied the OPW flood maps and my property is not located in a flood risk area, either fluvial and tidal flooding.”
She continues: “You say the information I need to take the steps needed to protect myself from this risk is ‘commercially sensitive. I feel as a customer you have a duty of care to me. I have asked who has assessed the risk, for specific information on the level of risk and to speak to someone in possession  of the scientific reasoning behind your assessment. All of these requests have [been] met with refusals.”
In correspondence from Liberty, seen also by The Mayo News, other matters, as well as the property’s proximity to water, are cited as reasons for the cancellation. They relate to Ms Mulloy’s membership of the Clew Bay Garden Trail and her activity as an Airbnb host and the need for public liability insurance cover also. However, Ms Mulloy has confirmed she has separate insurance for these activities.
Meanwhile, a letter sent to Ms Mulloy by Aviva on May 4 last states: “We wish to advise you that we are refusing to quote for this risk for the following reason: The property is in an area prone to storm, flood, subsidence or landslip.”
Ms Mulloy said that, like Liberty, all the insurance companies she contacted claim to have carried out risk assessment surveys but declined to divulge any further information.
“I have repeatedly been told that because I am within 200 metres (656 feet) of water, I cannot be insured. Not only does that exclude a lot of houses in Westport but right throughout the country,” she said.
Hastings Insurance Brokers Manager, Alan Murphy confirmed to The Mayo News they were ‘finding it more difficulty to organise cover for properties that are in close proximity to rivers, lakes and the sea.”
“Insurers have invested a lot in geo-coding technology and as a result of this there are large areas of the country now deemed to be of higher flood risk than previously. It has become more challenging for certain properties to get flood coverage or retain their flood coverage with existing terms,” Mr Murphy said yesterday.
He added: “As brokers, we have every sympathy for people who find themselves in this situation.”