Rising seas and stronger storms are making coastal living riskier — but many buyers misunderstand flood maps, treating predictions as certainties. A new UK study shows people quickly steer away from seafront properties after seeing risk maps, yet confusion over models and unclear communication is fuelling fear. Experts say clearer, simpler flood data is needed so buyers can make informed choices and coastal communities can adapt, not retreat.
Writing in The Conversation, Dr Avidesh Seenath, Course Director - MSc Environmental Change and Management - at the Environmental Change Institute (ECI), said:
Flood prediction maps need to be presented and communicated more clearly. Instead of technical jargon, plain language and relatable visuals on flood maps will help people understand the level of risk and what it actually means.
The general public, including prospective property buyers, need to be educated on how to read and interpret these maps. Currently, flood information is often tucked away in legal documents during conveyancing or buried in dense government websites. Instead, it should be part of the house-hunting process: visible, accessible and accompanied by guidance.”
MSc students observe the coastal erosion and flood risks at Torcross, south Devon
Working with colleagues at Coventry University and the University of Portsmouth , Dr Avidesh surveyed over 700 UK residents in a nationwide study to understand how access to flood prediction maps, which indicate the relative risk of flooding for areas based on factors like sea-level rise, storm surges, and local topography, affected their housing preferences.
Read the article in full in The Conversation: How to gauge flood risk before you buy or rent a seafront property