November 2023 flood support

Financial support for residents and businesses

Island homes and businesses directly affected by the recent floods can now apply for UK Government funded support (starting on 15 November 2023).

The Isle of Wight Council is administering a package of support, including a Community Recovery Grant of £500 per household to help with immediate costs.

What we need from you

We will need you to apply online for support from the schemes outlined below.

For advice please email iwcfloodrecovery@iow.gov.uk or call 01983 823111

Community Recovery Grant

Flooded households in affected areas can apply for up to £500 to get cash quickly to help with immediate costs.

The grant is available to anyone whose primary home suffered internal flood damage, or for people who were not able to live in their property, as a direct result of Storm Babet between 19 and 25 October 2023.

• second homes and empty properties are not eligible

Business Recovery Grant

Small-to-medium sized businesses will be eligible for up to £2,500 from the Business Recovery Grant to help them return quickly to business as usual.

The business must be a Small and Medium Sized Enterprise (SME) at the point of grant award – the criteria that must be satisfied for a business to be a SME are defined by the UK Government in the SME Action Plan as follows:

• have fewer than 250 employees; and
• have a turnover of less than €50m or a balance sheet total less than €43m

The business must have been trading at and/or from the property at the point that the property was impacted by Storm Babet. For the purposes of this grant scheme, a business is trading if it is engaged in business activity. This should be interpreted as carrying on a trade or profession or buying and selling goods or services to generate turnover. Fully constituted businesses in liquidation, dissolved, struck off or subject to a striking-off notice are not eligible under these conditions.

The business must have been either:

• Directly impacted by Storm Babet – for instance the business suffered flood damage to the property, or
• Indirectly impacted by Storm Babet – for instance access to the business premises is severely restricted as a result of flooding, including restricted access for customers, suppliers or staff.

The business must be able to receive the BRG payment in line with UK Subsidy Control rules.

What we need from you

We will ask you to provide details about you, the business and the affected property. We will also need the businesses bank account details and business rates reference number, so that we can consider your claim and make payment to you if you are eligible. You will also be asked to upload supporting evidence, for example photos of the flooding and damage along with evidence of the businesses insurance or evidence of refusal of insurance. If you have not applied for insurance you will be asked to explain the reasons for this to decide if the business is eligible.

Council Tax Discount and Business Rate Relief Schemes

Flooded households may also be eligible for a 100 per cent council tax discount for a minimum of three months — this means affected residents will not have to pay council tax during this period.

After three months, if residents have not been able to return home, they may not have to pay council tax until they move back to their home. The Government scheme does not apply to empty homes, second homes or student accommodation.

Businesses that have not been able to operate due to flooding at their premises may be eligible for 100 per cent Business Rates Relief for a minimum of three months.

How to apply

We are currently experiencing a high volume of applications and are working as quickly as possible to process them. If you have made an application, we will contact you to advise of the outcome or let you know if we need any further information as soon as we can.

Households and business owners can apply for flood relief by completing an online application form (from 8am on 15 November 2023).

• please give us as much information as possible when you apply
• upload any supporting evidence like photographs of the damage with your application form
• we may also need to visit the property
• the information you submit will also help inform our flood investigation report

If you need any further information or help with an application, please email iwcfloodrecovery@iow.gov.uk or call 01983 823111.

You may also be able to access a Property Flood Resilience grant that is funded by government as part of the response to Storm Babet.

We are currently reviewing the guidance and will provide more details as soon as possible on how you can access it, including how and when it will be payable to people with eligible properties.

If the storm has affected you, your home, business or family, you may need someone to talk to. Find out what mental health support is available on our someone to talk to page.