Thesis Format
Integrated Article
Degree
Master of Arts
Program
Geography and Environment
Abstract
The frequency and intensity of pluvial flooding events are increasing in London, Ontario resulting in basement flooding of residential homes. While London has made a number of improvements to its sewer infrastructure to address this issue, their ongoing focus has been to assist homeowners through a grant program as they recognized that increasing awareness of pluvial flood risk and mitigative measures will increase the resiliency of the community. Real estate sector professionals are ideally positioned to discuss the risks and mitigative measures with homeowners before the purchase of a home. Through online surveys and structured telephone interviews, this thesis investigated the perceptions of real estate agents, appraisers, and home inspectors on pluvial flooding in London, their view of homeowners’ awareness, and of the process of disclosing this information during the home purchasing process. Through the Multiple Listing Service and the Seller Property Information Statement, information about the basement flooding risk should be disclosed so that a buyer receives all known risks and mitigative measures of a house.
Summary for Lay Audience
Heavy rain events are becoming more common across Canada as warm oceans lead to more water evaporating into the air resulting in more intense precipitation events as clouds move over land. An extreme rainfall event that occurs independently from a body of water and floods an urban area is known as pluvial flooding. Basement flooding often results in areas where a municipality’s sewer system is overwhelmed by a sudden increase in water enters the system and the property not having any flood preventative measures installed. In order to reduce damages impacting homeowners, owners need to be made better aware of the risks that can occur and of ways to protect themselves from water damage. This thesis investigates the perceptions of the real estate sector, specifically real estate agents, appraisers, and home inspectors, their role during the home purchasing process and their role in the process of informing homebuyers about their risk of basement flooding and ways to prevent it. Through surveys and interviews it was discovered that real estate agents, home inspectors, and the sellers are ideal to inform buyers about potential risks and ways to prevent them. Through the Multiple Listing Service and the Seller Property Information Statement, information about basement flooding risk should be disclosed so that a buyer receives all known risks of a property. Informing homeowners about pluvial flood risk and mitigative measures is crucial to create more resilient homeowners and urban communities.
Recommended Citation
Cameron, Emilia, "The Perceptions of the Real Estate Sector on Pluvial Flooding in London, Ontario" (2023). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 9439.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/9439