Flooding

Flooding Advice - after a flood

Wait until you are sure the flooding period has ended before you start to clean and make repairs. Water levels may rise and fall for a short period after the rain has ended. 

The sewer network is mainly combined in Kensington and Chelsea, therefore flash flooding is likely to result in flooding from both rainwater and wastewater. Extreme care should therefore be taken when clearing up after a flood. For more information see Government advice on cleaning up after a flood.

What to do after a flood

  • Contact your insurer as soon as possible after a flood.
  • Call Streetline on 020 7361 3001 if you need any domestic items collecting which have been damaged as a result of flooding. Please make sure that you have claimed insurance before the items are collected by the Council. Once the items are collected and disposed of there will not be any provision to search and return the items.
  • Get your local electricity supply checked before switching it back on. (For businesses, assess the risk to your staff and customers and consider closing the business until it has been checked).
  • Don't use electrical equipment exposed to flood water until it has been checked by a qualified electrician.
  • Get professional advice (structural engineer) for repairs if your property is damaged
  • If anyone becomes ill after accidentally swallowing flood water or mud, contact a doctor and tell them about the flooding

For more information, see advice from the London Fire Brigade and Local Authority Building Control.

Recording flooding

Once flooding has cleared, please notify the Council that you have been flooded from any source (including groundwater, flash flooding or river flooding) so that the information can be used for any formal Flood Investigation. Please complete the questionnaire to report flooding to the Council.

Report flooding

If you require the questionnaire in a different format or any further assistance please email [email protected] for more information or call the planning line on 020 7361 3012.

If you have been flooded from sewers, you also need to fill in the Thames Water flooding questionnaire to record the incident.

Mental Health Support

Dealing with the aftermath of flooding can be incredibly stressful and can take a toll on your mental health. If you feel as though you are struggling to cope and need additional support, the local NHS community mental health service for the Borough may be able to help.

More information about the services available through Community Living Well can be found on its website. Residents in the Borough can self-refer for support by completing this form.

Last updated: 15 August 2023