Sellers 'must reveal risk of flooding to properties'

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Sir Michael Pitt, the head of a government inquiry into flooding, said the risk to a home should be made a part of the home information packs provided to buyers. At present, there is no legal requirement to inform of the chances of a property being flooded.

Critics fear the plan could make it extremely difficult to sell a home near the Thames. Some 57 square miles of London are below the high-tide line and at risk of a major storm surge even with the Thames Barrier in operation.

In his report today, Sir Michael said: "Home Information Packs should contain information on flooding as well. Believe it or not, that's not the case at the moment." He called for the Government to take urgent action against the "ever increasing threat" of flooding.

He also said authorities' lack of clarity and transparency was putting people's homes and lives in danger.

Last year's June and July floods across Yorkshire and Humberside, the Midlands and the West Country claimed 13 lives, forced thousands from their homes and cost £3 billion in damage. Sir Michael's 92 recommendations included for the Ministry of Defence to advise civil emergency flood workers, for the Met Office to improve its forecasting, and for more work to protect infrastructure such as water treatment and power plants and railways against flooding.