The Flood Property Assessment Program

If your building was damaged by the floods beginning in February (AGRN 1012) or June (AGRN 1025) 2022, you may be eligible for the Flood Property Assessment Program. You check the time periods and locations covered by these reference numbers on the page for Natural disaster declarations from financial year 2021-22.

This is an opt-in program that will provide you with a free, detailed assessment report, including a comprehensive scope to repair the building and an estimate of repair costs.

After receiving your report, you are in control of what happens next.

The assessment report is only provided to you and is not available to your local council, insurers or the general public. However, you can provide the report to your insurer or builder to assist with planning repairs or rebuilding.

If you decide that demolishing your building is the best option for you, then the program can also provide this service for free.

Participation in the Flood Property Assessment Program will not affect your eligibility for any future buyback, raising or refit.

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You are eligible to register for the program if: 

• your damaged building is one of the eligible building types
• your building is located in one of the local government area impacted by the flood events beginning in February (AGRN 1012) or July (AGRN 1025) 2022
• your building was damaged by these flood events (known by AGRN 1012 and AGRN 1025.).

Building types that are eligible

Building types eligible under the Flood Property Assessment Program include:

• residential buildings (where the residence has been affected by flood water)
• farm homesteads and rural buildings
• buildings on commercial properties used for primary business operation including shops and tourism-related businesses, owned by small businesses or primary producers.

Excluded building types

Building types that are not eligible under the program include:

• anything not within the property boundary unless required to safely access the property for demolition works
• trees (except where trees and stumps are identified as flood affected and present an obstacle or safety impact to carry out clean-up of eligible destroyed or damaged building structures on the property)
• landscaping, retaining walls and driveways
• in-ground swimming pools, spas and associated pool deck and pool fencing
• irrigation pumps and equipment
• tennis courts, basketball courts and other private sport facilities
• fences not in the vicinity of destroyed or damaged buildings except where required to safely undertake clean-up works
• rural fences
• septic tanks, unless they present a safety issue. Nature of the works to remove or make safe will be subject to individual on site assessments
• private power poles and bridges
• tyre dumps
• private museums / collections that require storage outside the primary residence
• state or national listed heritage buildings or properties – until such time that appropriate consideration is given to treatment of any remaining or intact
• buildings where flood damage has already been repaired.

What if my home was recently flooded?

You are not eligible for a building assessment under this program. However, other assistance may be available to you. Please contact Service NSW by calling 13 77 88 for further assistance.

What if my home has suffered storm damage?

Only homes that have been flood-impacted are eligible. Please contact your insurer or Service NSW by calling 13 77 88 for further assistance.

Will I receive financial assistance?

No; the Flood Property Assessment Program does not provide financial assistance. You will only receive a free building assessment.

To determine your eligibility for financial assistance, please contact Service NSW by calling 13 77 88.

What you need to prepare for your application:

• your name and contact number or the name and contact number of the person who needs assistance (if you're applying on behalf of someone else)
• the address of the impacted property
• check that the property's use meets the eligible buildings above
• check that you fall under the time and location criteria for either AGRN 1012 or AGRN 1025 – you can view these details on the natural disaster declarations page.

If you have not yet registered:

1. Use the checklist above to ensure you meet the eligibility criteria
2. Email your interest to NSW Public Works at fpap@pwa.nsw.gov.au. Please include:
   • Your name and contact number or the name and contact number for the person who needs assistance (if you're applying on behalf of someone else)
   • The address of the impacted property
   • Confirmation of your property type
   • Confirmation that you were affected by the floods that began in February and/or June 2022
   • Confirmation that the property is in one of the locations listed under AGRN 1012 or AGRN 1025.

If you are eligible, a Flood Property Assessment Program team member will contact you within 5 business days to schedule an initial building inspection.

If you are ineligible, this will be confirmed with you by return email within 5 business days.

What happens during a building inspection?

Your building inspection will be conducted by a certified assessor who will assess the condition of your building and extent of the damage, but also look for other risks such as mould or asbestos.

Nothing will be actioned or decided during this inspection – it is simply the first step in the process.

In some cases, initial inspections may reveal further expertise is needed to make an accurate assessment of your building, such as a structural engineer, which can be arranged with you to occur at a later date.

Can I attend the inspection?

Yes. It's not essential, but we encourage you to attend your building inspection.

The inspection can be a difficult process and you might decide to bring a support person with you.

Following the building inspection, you will be presented with a detailed assessment report.

The assessment report is comprehensive, to give you the full picture of the damage to your building. The report will also help you understand repair works necessary to restore your home to its pre-flood state and an estimate of how much this would cost.

After receiving your report, you are in control of what happens next. There is no requirement or expectation that you act on the findings of the report.

You can use this report to engage with your insurer or builder to begin the process of repairing your building.

Based on the information in your report, you may decide that demolishing the building is the best option for you. If you choose to demolish, the program can provide this service for free.

Notifying local council

In most cases, a copy of the report will not be given to the local council.

An assessment report may indicate a building is structurally compromised or considered unsafe. If it poses a potential safety risk to any occupants of the building, adjacent properties or the general public, Council will be notified to liaise with the owner regarding any make safe orders or other immediate action. 

Additional copies of your inspection report

For an additional copy of your report, email NSW Public Works at fpap@pwa.nsw.gov.au with your details and your request.

What if I don’t agree with my inspection report?

If you don’t agree with aspects of the assessment report, you can discuss it with a member of the NSW Public Works team. Contact fpap@pwa.nsw.gov.au to arrange a phone call.

If you have already received an assessment, you will not be entitled to another one. However, if you disagree with the engineering assessments within your assessment report, a second independent report can be obtained at no cost.

You are under no obligation to make the repairs recommended in your report.

If you need financial assistance to restore your home to a safe and habitable condition, you may be eligible to apply for other assistance.

You are encouraged to discuss your eligibility for assistance with Service NSW by calling 13 77 88.

You can receive a free demolition through the program if you can't afford the recommended repairs. Please email NSW Public Works at fpap@pwa.nsw.gov.au with your details and a member of the team will discuss this option with you.

To enquire about your registration, email NSW Public Works at fpap@pwa.nsw.gov.au