Subsidence Insurance
Specialist Subsidence Insurance
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Insurance for Homes with Subsidence
What is subsidence insurance?
Subsidence insurance is a type of non-standard home insurance that protects a home when its foundations shift or sink into the ground. This sinking is called subsidence. It can be caused by shrinking clay soil during dry seasons, growing tree roots, leaking drains, or historical mining activity. Subsidence can cause significant damage to a house. Serious cracks could emerge, walls can become destabilised, and floors may become uneven. All of these results can make a house extremely unstable. Subsidence cover typically pays for the structural repairs of a property, and potentially alternative accommodation if it’s uninhabitable.
Do I need specialist subsidence insurance?
Most standard home insurance policies do cover subsidence, but there are cases where you’ll need this specialist coverage to be included.
History of subsidence
If your property has experienced subsidence in the past, insurers may refuse to cover it. If they do offer coverage, there will likely be more exclusions and higher premiums. Specialist insurers typically offer tailored policies for riskier cases.
Underpinned property
If your property’s foundations have been reinforced after movement, insurers may be reluctant to cover you. They view this as evidence of past subsidence. Specialist insurance is usually needed where homes have been underpinned.
Historic, ongoing, or neighbouring subsidence
If you live in a high-risk area, you may also need specialist insurance to be covered.
Denied standard insurance
If you’ve been refused cover or offered policies that exclude subsidence, landslip, or heave, you’ll need subsidence cover.
Buying a property with a history of subsidence
If the house you’re buying has a known history of subsidence, mortgage lenders may require you to have specialised insurance.
What does subsidence insurance cover?
Cover for subsidence can differ by policy, but there are common inclusions and exclusions. Below is a general outline of what you can usually expect from subsidence insurance.
Usually covered
- Structural repairs – Most policies pay for the repair of your home’s structure if damaged by subsidence, landslip, or heave. This typically includes the walls, floors, roof, foundations, and ceilings. Other areas covered can include permanent fixtures, windows, doors, and outbuildings as well.
- Underpinning – Covers costs related to stabilising your home’s foundations after movement. The cost can vary depending on the size of the house, the method used, and the extent of the damage.
- Alternative accommodation – If your home becomes uninhabitable due to subsidence or while it’s being repaired, temporary housing may be covered.
- Trace and access – Pays for the investigation of the source of the problem. This includes finding the source, making the area accessible, and reinstating the property.
Usually not covered
- Pre-existing subsidence damage – Damage that occurred and was not repaired before the start of the policy.
- Damage to outdoor areas – If the main house was not damaged, you might not be covered for damage to patios, driveways, or garden walls alone.
- Movement not classed as subsidence – Typically, things like settlement, shrinking, or expansion.
- Damage from negligence – Damage caused by poor maintenance, neglect, or bad construction.
How much does subsidence insurance cost?
The cost of subsidence cover in the UK can vary a lot. It really depends on the unique circumstances of each case. Several risk factors usually come into play when insurers calculate premiums, including the following areas.
Type and size of the property
- Older properties – Older properties, especially listed buildings, are more expensive to insure. They typically have shallower or less robust foundations, which makes them more vulnerable to any ground movement. Newer properties are considered lower risk because they benefit from modern construction standards and newer materials.
- Detached houses – These can be more expensive to insure than semi-detached or terraced houses because they usually have a larger footprint. They also have more external walls to consider.
- Non-standard construction – Properties of non-typical construction can attract higher premiums. For example, if they have timber frames, thatched roofs, or are built with alternative materials, insurance will likely cost more.
Property location
- Soil type and geology – Some areas in the UK, like London, Essex, Kent, and southeast England, tend to have clay-heavy soil. Homes in these areas are more prone to subsidence. That’s because the clay shrinks when it’s dry and expands when wet, causing movement.
- Weather patterns – Regions with more frequent droughts, heatwaves, and heavy rainfall tend to experience more subsidence.
- Proximity to trees and water – Properties close to trees and bodies of water tend to be charged more for insurance. That’s because tree roots can cause movement as they grow. They also draw moisture from the soil and may cause shrinkage.
- Urban vs. rural settings – Densely built areas typically face more expensive premiums because of the higher likelihood of leaking underground pipes. Urban areas typically have older infrastructure, which could exacerbate the problem. There may also be historic land use like mining or landfill, which, over time, can cause subsidence.
- Local claims history – Insurers assess risk using postcodes. If your home is in an area with a history of subsidence claims, your premiums are likely to be higher. This is true even if your particular property has never experienced subsidence.
Rebuild costs
- Market value vs. rebuild costs – Rebuild costs represent the amount it would cost to rebuild your house from scratch if it’s destroyed by subsidence. This is different to the market value. A property’s sale price, or market value, would be higher because it includes the value of the land and location desirability. This insurance typically only covers the rebuild costs.
- What’s included – The cost of building materials, labour, and professional fees. This includes architects’ and surveyors’ fees. Demolition and debris removal costs. Permanent fixtures, driveways, boundary walls, garages and outbuildings may be included, dependent on policy terms.
How can I get cheaper quotes?
Evidence of inspections and repairs
Keeping a paper trail of all structural surveys, proof of repairs, and certificates of adequacy can lower your risk profile. Proper maintenance can lower your premiums.
Increase your excess
This is the amount that you pay when you make a claim. By increasing this amount, you lower the risk to the insurer. This is usually reflected in lower premiums.
Review your rebuild cost
Make sure that you’re not over-insured. Only pay for the true value of rebuilding your home.
Ask about discounts
For example, some insurers offer discounts if you’ve had no subsidence claims in several years.
Disclose property history
It’s important to declare previous subsidence or underpinning to ensure your cover is valid. This way, you’ll avoid paying higher costs later.
Compare multiple quotes
This increases your chances of finding more competitive deals. You can easily do this by filling out a single form on our website.
Home insurance with subsidence cover FAQs
Does building insurance cover subsidence?
What if my house has a history of subsidence?
Is subsidence covered by standard home insurance?
Will previous subsidence claims affect my future premiums?
What documents will the insurer need when I make a claim?
Can I get insurance if my house is in a high-risk area?
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