About 16,000 houses in England were flooded during the wettest December in a century.

Now Clark Brookes Turner Cary is hosting a special flood briefing for residential conveyancers.

It takes place on Wednesday, April 20, at the law firm’s West Bromwich headquarters – 3rd Floor, Guardian House, Cronehills Linkway – and will focus on risk identification and assessment.

Taking part are experts in the field of residential searches, Tony Rollason of Landmark Information Group, Owen Davies of Severn Trent Searches and Ian Marriott of Index PI.

They will be addressing how more than ever before consumers need clear advice on the level of flood risk at a given address.

Armed with the best possible information, they can make better informed decisions when purchasing a property so they enter a transaction “eyes wide open”.

The seminar follows the recent launch by Severn Trent Searches, in association with Landmark, of a new drainage and water search report, CON29DW FLOOD+, which, it is claimed, is the first of its kind to automatically provide flood risk data as part of the essential drainage and water search.

Building on the official Law Society-recommended CON29DW drainage and water enquiry, it helps homebuyers assess whether detailed flood analysis is required prior to the sale completing.

CON29DW FLOOD+ also takes in insurance rating data which offers an indication of the number of flood-related insurance claims per 1,000 houses in the postcode sector.

Mr Davies, business development manager at Severn Trent Searches, said:

“It is not always immediately obvious when a property is at risk of flooding.

Now, homebuyers will not only receive the essential drainage and water search information, but have the advantage of accessing flood risk data too. We hope that by offering the single report, it becomes an industry standard.

Not only does it simplify the conveyancing process for all involved but will ultimately help homebuyers make a more informed decision as to whether more detailed flood analysis is needed from their conveyancing solicitor.”

Mr Rollason, regional manager at Landmark Information Group, said:

“This is another example of how conveyancing searches are being simplified. Now, conveyancers are able to access one single report for their homebuying client, which provides the essential CON29DW search plus an additional layer of flood screening.”

The briefing, which also takes in a session on probate, starts at 8am with breakfast and registration and runs through to 11.15am.