Extreme weather hits mortgage advisers

The office was submerged in water, resulting in ruined electrical equipment, files and desks and the contents of the drains have come up the walls.

Advisers haven't escaped the worst of the flash flooding across England, as Alan Lakey's Hemel Hempstead office was submerged in water overnight.

The office (pictured) flood has ruined electrical equipment, files and desks while the contents of the drains have come up the walls.

Lakey, who is director of advice firm Highclere Financial Services and critical illness expert CIExpert, said: “I walked in the door this morning and saw there was five inches of water.

“I can’t do any work because my computer got flooded.

“Unless I am recommenced for full loss of business I am going to be suing the council.

“I got a letter from my MP six months ago saying next door had flooded and they would install a storm drain.”

Lakey indirectly purchased the property 16 years ago through his pension fund.

He has contents and buildings insurance with LV= and Zurich respectively.

This isn’t the first time the property has flooded, which is reportedly near a canal, river and in a low-lying part of Hemel Hempstead.

He added: “I had a flood seven years ago. It was caused by the gullies and drains being filled up with mud and plants which built up more pressure on the other drains than they could handle.

“There are some businesses down the road that have suffered more. The bookie has three feet of water to contend with.”

He said: “My business will be curtailed to a degree for the best part of two weeks I reckon.

“That’s not my fault – if the council had done their job this wouldn’t have happened so they will have to cough up.

“There’s nine occasions where I’ve had to go to court to sue people and I’ve won nine times.”

At the time of writing Lakey was in the property waiting for loss-adjustors.