A flood-risk home in Norfolk has been adapted to show how residents living in flood-risk areas can reduce, resist and recover from flooding.

The protected house means the tenant, Tracey Nunn would only have to leave home for a day or two when the house floods, rather than weeks. "The house looks really nice," said Tracey, "just like an ordinary house apart from the kitchen appliances being on plinths. We live in a flood risk zone and this project has really given me peace of mind."

The property is a three-bedroomed house, one of a group of 20 homes owned by Cotman Housing Association at Aldwyck Way in Pakefield, Lowestoft. The houses have twice been affected by flooding from a large drainage ditch to the rear of the estate in recent years. This has caused damage to the properties, distress to the tenants and extra costs for the tenants and housing association.

Interestingly, after the media release, Norwich Union, one of the funding partners for the project, said it would not necessarily cut premiums for householders who put in flood protection devices.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Money Box programme, Norwich Union's flood adviser Jill Boulton said: "It isn't about reducing premiums it's about continuing insurability."

The statement came just as the Association of British Insurers announced that the industry had taken steps to make sure more homes could get insurance despite being at risk of flooding.

The demonstration home, which has been jointly funded by the European Regional Develpment Fund, Norfolk County Council and Norwich Union, encourages householders to see the benefits of protecting their homes from floods.

Alison McErlain, Strategic Planning Manager, Norfolk County Council, said: "Recent research shows that only one in ten householders understand that they have a responsibility to protect their homes against flooding, incorrectly believing it is the remit of local government, the Environment Agency or water companies."

"Unfortunately, it is householders who ultimately suffer the brunt of the costs from flood damage. Through the FLOWS project, we wanted to show how people at risk can protect their homes either by doing resilient work when they are planning to make changes to their homes or following flooding."

John Wickham, Senior Claims Manager at Norwich Union, said: "The cost of restoration for a typical flood claim can be more than £30,000. However, this cost can be significantly reduced to under £10,000 per household if flood resilient measures have been implemented. As damage is on a lesser scale, families can return home more quickly and there is less disruption to family life."

• Flood guards provided by Cotman Housing, which can quickly and easily be erected around doors to keep out flash flood water for several hours.
• MDF or chipboard kitchen units replaced with steel alternatives.
• Main appliances raised on plinths.
• Perishable materials such as carpets and floor tiles replaced with ceramic tiles.
• Gypsum plaster replaced with lime-based plaster up to 1m above floor level to control dampness passing through walls.
• New easy-to-remove internal doors and new plastic frames and linings.
• New kitchen sockets and telephone and TV points raised above possible water levels.
• Dishwasher and washing machine fitted with valves to prevent flood water backing up.
• ‘Toilet bung’ to be placed in the toilet by the tenant if flooding is expected.

Flooding can occur quickly and with little warning in Aldwyck Way so an alarm system has also been installed, funded by Suffolk County Council, to warn the tenants when water levels begin to rise in the drainage ditch. When this happens, an automated telephoned warning will go to all householders, to give them time to prepare for possible flooding.

• Pump-and-sump systems which are installed below floorboards to remove water faster than it can enter the house from below ground.
• Installation of one-way valves into drainage pipes to prevent sewage backing up

Supported by Norfolk County Council, Norwich Union has developed a website with information about flood resilient and resistant repairs (www.floodresilienthome.co.uk)