Do You Live In A Subsidence Hotspot?

With repairs from subsidence possibly running into thousands of pounds, the key is to take action if you suspect your house has subsidence but don’t panic.

According to Direct Line claims data, London and the South East suffer more from subsidence than the rest of the country as the soil in these areas contains more clay. This is more sensitive to changes in moisture.

A hot, dry summer can result in a reduction of soil volume. When this changes, the building can be damaged by tapering cracks.

It’s not just the weather though that can cause the soil to dry out. Trees and other vegetation can have a significant impact as they soak up the water through their roots.

Bigger trees demand more moisture which can increase the shrinking of soil. Certain types of tree therefore should be planted well away from the house for this reason, a willow tree for example falls into this category.

If you have a small garden then take this into consideration when planting trees and shrubs and for example use such as yew trees or magnolias that are not so thirsty for water.

With nearly 20% of households planning major building work or an extension to their homes in the next year, more properties could be at risk of subsidence if these extensions are not built with deep foundations or too close to existing trees.

Rob Warner, head of risk modelling at Direct Line home insurance, explains: “Do not panic if you suspect you have subsidence. You should act quickly by calling your insurer immediately.

“If you are concerned about the trees on your property do not make any rash decisions to cut them down. Look at what kind of tree it is, how far away from the house it is and whether they are protected by local conservation.

“Good property maintenance such as looking after your drains can also help, as this could erode the soil surrounding the house.”

The claims data revealed the top areas for subsidence include the following postal districts: N4, NW5, W10, N19, NW6, SE24, SE23, SE22, SE15 and NW11.

Points to consider if you believe your property has subsidence:

• With a crack in a wall being a most common sign of subsidence, be prepared for an insurance company to confirm this as they will want to monitor over time and inspect regularly
• Damaged or leaking drains should be repaired
• Trees near a property should be regularly pruned
• If underpinning is an option (pouring concrete into the foundations), make sure this is done by a reputable building company
• Keep all receipts and certificates relating to work done on your property to tackle subsidence
• If you are buying a house, check carefully for any evidence of subsidence. The Land Registry will show whether houses in the area have already been or are likely to be affected by subsidence.”

MoneyHighStreet comments: “Clearly subsidence can be a big issue but by carefully monitoring your property at least you can take action sooner rather than later if need be.

“If your property does suffer a subsidence issue, it is possible that your current home insurer will not re-insure you. If this is the case a specialist insurer may be able to help or you can get advice from an insurance broker.”