By Leah Conway – KLTV Contributor
Kirklees Council has launched a Property Flood Resilience Recovery Support Scheme on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
What will the grant provide?
The aims of the grant are to reduce the risk and extent of flood damage for at-risk Kirklees homeowners.
As a result of the grant, homeowners most at risk could receive up to £5000 to be used for preventative measures inside or outside the property.
The overall aim is to reduce the risk of flooding in the future.
Who can apply for the grant?
At the moment, the scheme is only open to residents and businesses affected in February 2020 by Storm Ciara and Dennis.
The council will be contacting properties that have previously received flood grants due to these storms.
How do I apply?
To apply for the flood recovery scheme residents, need to submit an application, before hiring an approved surveyor. The surveyor will provide a report on property changes that will help prevent future flooding.
The council have provided some examples of types of work surveyor may recommend. This list includes:
- Air brick covers, toilet pan seals, non-return valves
- Repointing existing external walls with water-resistant mortar
- Replace gypsum plaster with water-resistant material
- Sumps pumps, demountable door guards
- Moving electrics to above flood levels.
“Small changes can make a big difference”
Councillor Paul Davies, Cabinet Member for Culture and Greener Kirklees said: “Kirklees is on heightened alert for possible flooding, our teams will do everything they can to better protect properties, but in severe weather, there is often little we can do to hold back the water from entering homes and businesses.
“This is why preventative measures are so important.
“Whilst these works won’t always be able to completely remove the risk of flood damage, often small changes can make a big difference and investing now could save property owners significantly more in the future.
“In most cases, we expect that the grant will cover the costs of the works recommended by the expert surveyor.”