Hot weather spells a summer of subsidence

The bursts of hot weather that so many Brits love can have a downside – to the foundations of your home. With the Met Office predicting a hotter than average summer, moneysupermarket.com urges homeowners to ensure they have adequate insurance against subsidence.

There has been a recent marked increase in the cost of claims. Last year subsidence claims on domestic properties cost £302 million following on from £225 million in 2005. According to research from moneysupermarket.com, most subsidence claims are subject to a £1,000 excess.

Bouts of hot weather and a lack of rain can cause the ground beneath a property to dry out and become unstable. Homes with trees nearby are more at risk of subsidence as roots grow in search of water during long dry spells, taking moisture from the soil.

Richard Mason, director of insurance at moneysupermarket.com, said: “The most common sign of subsidence is cracks appearing in the wall, especially around the door and window frames. All buildings naturally experience some cracking, so homeowners or buyers needn’t always panic. Any cracks wider than your thumb however, may mean there is evidence of subsidence. In this case you should alert your insurer immediately so they can assess the situation.”

Most insurance companies will want to look at the development of cracks over time so prepare to be patient with regular inspections. Damaged or leaking drains (which can weaken the ground beneath the foundations) need repairing and trees close to the property should be regularly pruned.

In more serious cases, underpinning may be an option where concrete is poured into the foundations to bolster the structure. This should be done by a reputable building company.

If you are a homebuyer, look carefully for any evidence of subsidence. You can use The Land Registry to research whether houses in the local area have been, or are likely to be, affected by subsidence.

Mason said: "I would urge homeowners to be as honest as possible with their insurer. If you are aware of a subsidence situation when you move into a property, fully update your insurer. If you live in an area of drought you are likely to be more at risk from subsidence so make sure you check your building insurance is up to date.

“If you notice signs of subsidence in your existing property notify your insurer immediately to ensure the problem is dealt with early. If you have any work done to your property to reduce the effects of subsidence, keep all the certificates as evidence.”