The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) spoke out yesterday saying the government must improve the flood control and prevention system if there is to be any hope of stopping regular flooding of the 1.5m properties at risk.
This added to calls from the Association of British Insurers yesterday for an improved government strategy.
RICS president Peter Faulkner said: "The present system is too slow, too complex and is failing to deliver."
"Who do you turn to when you're flooded? There are eight separate sets of legislation dealing with flood and coastal defences, 254 individual bodies, plus local authorities, all coupled to an incredibly complex and detailed funding system," he added.
He called for the appointment of a "flooding strongman" to co-ordinate the flood control strategy.
