Subsidence to a UK home can cost hundreds of thousands of pounds to correct and many homes are affected by it each year. Here are some ways to identify subsidence and stop it from happening to your property.

What is Subsidence?

Subsidence is a problem that affects many UK properties and yet most people don’t know how to deal with it. In fact, more than half of homeowners misunderstand the signs of subsidence and what the ramifications are.

Subsidence affects more than the structural stability of your home and even the smallest crack can result in your home losing up to 20% of its value if left untreated. So, it is important to spot the visual indicators and effectively treat the cause of subsidence before it wrecks real havoc both on your property’s structure and your finances. In real terms, if left untreated, the damage caused could cost you between £5,000 and £500,000 to repair.

Subsidence is most common in homes built on shallow foundations, as such older homes are particularly at risk, however, there are also many new build properties built on such foundations that are also affected by subsidence.

Related Reading: Cracks in Walls: When You Should Be Concerned

How to Spot Signs of Subsidence?

Buildings move and settle over time. Sometimes, hairline cracks may appear, but they are usually cosmetic and not a cause for concern. Subsidence is a condition in which large cracks develop inside and outside of a property, sometimes more gradually over time but often more quickly.

Common Signs of Subsidence Include:

  • Doors and windows becoming stuck, making them difficult to open and close.
  • Wallpaper that buckles in the corners of rooms.
  • Plaster cracks that appear in the walls, often near doors and windows.
  • Brickwork cracks appearing on the outside of the house.
  • Sudden cracks appearing after extremely dry weather.
  • Diagonal cracks greater than 1mm in width and larger at the top than the bottom.

What to Do if You Think You Have Subsidence?

If you suspect your property may be suffering from subsidence you can consult a professional surveyor or builder. The solution to subsidence will usually involve the removal of trees nearby (vegetation can draw moisture under the building), relining drains that are leaking, or strengthening the foundations.

Alternatively, and the best course of action, is to consult your home insurance provider who will help you decide the best course of action and a surveyor or engineer will usually be sent to assess the property.

Sometimes causes of subsidence can be dealt with quickly and efficiently without the need for foundation repairs. However, foundation work can be expensive and disruptive in many cases.

You can avoid underpinning and similar repairs by contacting your insurance provider at your earliest convenience. You might consider tree control or having the pipes surveyed and repaired. In some cases, however, there is little to no need for any repair work.

How Long Does a Subsidence Claim Take?

Because every property is different, it is difficult to give a time frame. It may take up to a year to conduct investigations to determine the patterns and rate of structural movement, and the building must be stable before repairs can begin.

Related Reading: Navigating the Purchase of a House with Minor Subsidence: A Detailed Guide for UK Buyers

Can I Sell My House if it Has Subsidence?

If subsidence damage has been repaired properly, it should not have a significant effect on your property’s value. However, many buyers will view the possibility of subsidence recurring as a major influencing factor when they choose to put in an offer. If you don’t use a specialist insurance company, it can also be difficult to insure a property that has had subsidence.

What Subsidence Damage Will My Insurer Cover?

Subsidence coverage is a standard feature on most home insurance policies (unless otherwise stated, which could be an issue with some insurers if there have been subsidence issues in the past).

It is typical practice to send a qualified professional out to inspect the damage. This will usually not cost you anything if your insurer arranges it. The expert will also be able to determine whether the damage is covered under your policy.

A subsidence excess is often applicable. When repairs are made, this excess will be charged to you by your insurer.

What is Subsidence Excess?

Subsidence excess refers to the amount you have to pay at claim stage for a subsidence repair. This is usually a once off payment or a fixed amount.

Related Reading: Subsidence Claims In My Area: UK Guide

Building Insurance for Subsidence: How can Frontier Help?

The buildings insurance part of your home insurance policy usually covers subsidence damage to the house itself, however those properties with a history of subsidence can have exclusions against further issues. Most insurers in the market will not cover your home for buildings insurance if there is a history of subsidence to your property.

What Sets Frontier Apart from The Market?

At Frontier, providing the property has a Certificate of Structural Adequacy, we can provide subsidence cover as standard. And you get to choose the excess that applies rather than having one imposed on you.

The average market excess for subsidence is £1000 when you claim for a subsidence event. At Frontier, we see things differently, we therefore do not charge an additional subsidence excess. Always check the Ts and Cs in your insurance policy to understand how you will be charged in the event of a claim.

Customer Reviews

Easiest website to use since I’ve been buying insurance. And in my case, with a new Build that suffered subsidence that was rectified by the builder (underpinned + certificate of adequacy), they accepted my house as normal unlike 97% of insurers who won’t even quote. Bravo!

Alexander MacKenzie

So easy to navigate the online questionnaire. And the love chat was available for the questions I had. A million miles better than experiences with other insurance companies websites

Tim Wright