Norwich Union (NU) is extending its digital flood mapping technology to the broker channel.
NU intermediary business director Ken Wallace said that the insurer is currently rolling the online service out to 200 brokers who have household accounts worth £50,000 or more with NU.
He said that the online service would enable brokers to quote for household business in high risk flood areas themselves, in most instances without having to refer risks to the insurer.
The service will also allow brokers to track the status of claims and policies online, as well as issue policy documentation themselves.
Wallace described the offering as "radically different".
"This is the first major launch of our web-based home offering," he said.
Aside from access to the service, NU will also give the selected brokers a pricing commitment on risks placed using the technology.
Wallace said that for 80% of risks NU would guarantee to quote within £20 of the best price in the market for contents cover and within £40 of the best price for buildings cover.
NU also plans to incentivise customers by giving them an upfront fixed increase commitment for the first, second and third renewals. Wallace said that as an extra sweetener, NU would also offer free home and garden cover, free sports cover or a 20% deduction on annual travel cover for flood risk households who insured through any of the 200 brokers using the service.
At the time of going to press, there were 31 flood warnings in effect throughout England and Wales, as well as 73 flood watch warnings.
GAB Robins group marketing director David Germaine, said: "The summer storms have created an additional number of claims for our building repair network, Sergon.
In addition, Tropical Storm Risk raised its forecasts for the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season, saying storm activity will be about 150% of average.
