HOUSEHOLDERS in East Yorkshire are growing increasingly concerned they will be left without flood insurance next year.
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has expressed its concern the Government has failed to reach a new agreement to replace the Statement of Principles.
The statement ensures firms will provide flood cover as long as the Government continues to invest in flood defences.
The agreement is due to expire in June.
Now, Burstwick resident and flood campaigner Ron Smith has travelled to London to lobby MPs as part of a representative group from the National Flood Forum.
He said: "The Statement of Principles may not run out until June but residents of East Yorkshire are already suffering.
"Some people have already been refused insurance.
"One neighbour was paying £500 but now he has been quoted £1,600 with a £10,000 excess.
"Luckily, he has found somewhere cheaper but there is no consensus.
"There is also a real problem with those trying to sell houses.
"Potential buyers in East Yorkshire are put off when they ask about flooding.
"This will have a massive impact in East Yorkshire."
Almost 17,000 homes in Hull could struggle to secure home insurance against the risk of flooding when the Government agreement ends.
Mr Smith, whose home was flooded in 2007, believes there are obvious options.
He said: "We are looking at a simple pooling arrangement with some kind of national levy.
"Already, everyone pays £8 towards flood insurance and insurance companies are asking for it to be raised to £13.
"The other option is for the Government to provide an overdraft facility."
The voluntary Statement of Principles has been in place since 2000.
The ABI insists time is running out to get a new agreement in place before the Statement of Principles expires.
Aidan Kerr, head of property at the Association of British Insurers, said: "Insurers want to bring much-needed clarity on the future of flood insurance to customers like those in Hull, for whom the recent heavy rainfall across the UK will be a reminder of the devastation caused by the major floods of 2007.
"The industry has developed the only workable model to safeguard both the availability and affordability of flood cover.
"The ball is now in the Government's court to provide certainty to those at high flood risk.
"We continue in our discussions with Government but are frustrated with the current impasse we have hit around their reluctance to provide a temporary overdraft facility for the industry's not-for-profit scheme.
"No country in the world has a free market for flood insurance with affordable cover for those at high risk without some form of government involvement.
"It is vital the Government works with the industry to tackle this issue together."
