2.2 VOLUNTARY MANDATORY STATUS IN FRANCE AND BELGIUM BOTH SYSTEM...

6.2.2  Voluntary  Mandatory  Status  

In France and Belgium both systems are based on a form of mandatory flood insurance. Both systems

involve automatically including flood insurance with other first-party property insurances. In France, the

NAT/CAT is added to all property insurances. In Belgium the WN is added only to fire insurance. In

theory, property insurances are possible to avoid, for example, by those on very low income who live in

in private rental accommodation. In practice, regulations are such in both countries that most assets, be

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In Appendix 4 there is a table comparing the Dutch flood compensation characteristics with the UK, France and Belgium

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they public or private are insured against natural disasters including flood. Penetration rates are above

ninety-five percent consequently.

The UK system is based on voluntary not mandatory flood insurance. It is often described as quasi-

mandatory however as flood insurance is required by banks for the approval or mortgages. While flood

insurance penetration rates are very high (above ninety percent) compared to global averages (twenty

percent) there are a significant number of at risk properties without flood insurance compared to the

more solidaristic French and Belgium systems.