Subsidence is the downward movement of the ground beneath a building, which pulls the foundations down and can crack walls and distort the structure. Buildings insurance normally covers subsidence damage, but a higher excess, often around 1,000 pounds, usually applies to a subsidence claim. Claims can be long and involved, from monitoring the movement to underpinning the foundations, and a history of subsidence affects future cover.
Subsidence is one of the risks homeowners worry about most, because it strikes at the structure itself. The good news is that standard buildings cover includes it; the complication is the high excess and the length of a claim.
What is subsidence?
Subsidence happens when the ground under a property sinks, taking the foundations with it. The common cause is soil that shrinks as it dries out, often clay soil in dry spells, sometimes made worse by trees and shrubs drawing moisture from the ground near the house. The tell-tale sign is new, wide, diagonal cracking in walls, though not all cracks mean subsidence.
Does buildings insurance cover subsidence?
Yes, standard buildings insurance normally covers damage to the home from subsidence, along with heave and landslip. Cover usually applies to the main building and outbuildings, but damage to driveways, patios, paths and garden walls is often excluded unless the house itself is damaged at the same time.
Why is the excess higher for subsidence?
Subsidence claims are expensive and complex, so policies apply a higher excess to them, commonly around 1,000 pounds, compared with the smaller excess on other claims. If the property has claimed for subsidence before, the excess can be higher still, and cover can become harder to arrange.
What does a subsidence claim involve?
Because the cause has to be established, a claim can run for a long time. It may involve a period of monitoring to see how the building is moving, removing or managing nearby trees, repairing cracks, and in more serious cases underpinning to strengthen the foundations. If the home cannot be lived in during the work, the policy usually covers alternative accommodation. Buying or insuring a property with a subsidence history is a specialist matter, covered in our guide to home insurance with a subsidence history.
Getting the cover right
Subsidence cover is standard, but the excess, the exclusions and a property’s history all matter, and a home with any subsidence record needs careful placing. A broker can help arrange cover that many insurers shy away from. To review your home cover, get a quote or speak to the team.