Subsidence Home Insurance Comparison

Compare Subsidence Insurance

If your home has been affected by subsidence, then it can prove more difficult than usual to get insurance. However, it is important to protect your property and its contents, and to give yourself peace of mind should anything go wrong. The solution is to get specific subsidence insurance, and we can help you with this.

What is subsidence?

Subsidence is often a term people dread when it comes to their homes. It means that the building has sunk slightly into the ground, and this can cause issues. It can be repaired and any structural damage can be mitigated, but once this has occurred, it will have an impact on your ability to get the property insured, especially at a reasonable price.

How long do you have to declare subsidence for insurance?

You must let your insurer know of any subsidence for the duration your property is insured. Insurers usually keep subsidence claim records for 7 years.

If you’ve had the problem fixed, does the insurer still class the property as subsided?

Yes, even if you have had repairs made and fixed the issue to the best of your ability, the property is still considered to be at higher risk than average. This is because if subsidence has occurred once, then there is a chance that it will happen again. It is also possible that an episode of subsidence has caused some structural damage that is yet to become apparent, and insurers have to take this risk into consideration.

Is it worth claiming for subsidence?

Given the extreme levels of damage that can occur from subsidence it is well worth ensuring you have adequate cover to avoid being left with crippling damage and repair costs.

Can your insurance costs be affected by your neighbours?

Yes, if your neighbour’s property has been subject to subsidence, then your home may be considered to be at increased risk of similar issues. This is dependent on how close they are to you and is unaffected by whether your home has been damaged. Therefore, you could have to pay more even if your property has no history of subsidence.

Will a survey show subsidence?

Homebuyer surveys will usually indicate if a property is at risk of subsidence however further and more in-depth surveys may be needed to verify.

How can you lower the cost of subsidence insurance?

There are some steps that you can take to decrease insurance costs overall, and these will help to make subsidence insurance more affordable.

• Keep your home occupied: If you live away from your property for longer periods, due to work or extended holidays, then leaving it empty can make insurance premiums higher than usual. Consider asking a friend or family member to live at your home while you’re away, or employ a house sitter.
• Get a burglar alarm: Getting a professionally fitted and maintained burglar alarm reduces the risk of theft and can help to lower your insurance premiums.
• Pay annually: Paying for your insurance annually often means getting a discount.

Find cheap subsidence insurance with Tiger.co.uk

If you are keen to get cheap subsidence insurance, then it is a good idea to compare quotes from our wide range of providers. If you give us some basic details, we can help you to compare subsidence insurance. This means that you can get a range of subsidence insurance quotes, and choose the best deal for your building and contents.

Which subsidence situation are you in?

How easy it is to find cover depends on where you are in the subsidence story. Match your situation to see what insurers usually want.

Signs of ground movement to check before you buy or renew

Cracks are the first sign insurers ask about. The ABI guide to subsidence says these cracks tend to be diagonal, wider at the top than the bottom, thicker than a 10p coin and found around doors and windows.

Doors and windows that stick for no clear reason are another sign. The same guide is clear that most cracks are not caused by subsidence, so an expert check helps before you declare anything.

Why clay soil matters for home insurance with a subsidence history

Clay soil is the main reason some postcodes see more subsidence. The British Geological Survey says clay shrink and swell is the most damaging geohazard in Britain, and the formations most at risk are mainly in the south-east.

Tree roots take water from clay, which can make the ground shrink in dry spells. Insurers often ask about trees close to the house for that reason.

What to gather before you compare cover after subsidence

• Date of the subsidence and whether a claim was made
• The structural engineer’s report and monitoring results
• A certificate of structural adequacy, if one was issued
• Details of any underpinning or tree removal
• Your current excess for subsidence, heave and landslip
• Survey reports from when you bought the home

Getting a subsidence insurance quote through Tiger.co.uk

Tiger.co.uk lets you compare multiple quotes for a home with a subsidence history using one short form. Not every insurer quotes after past movement, so how many prices you get depends on your paperwork and postcode.

Subsidence home insurance often sits alongside other quirks. See our specialist home insurance hub for every property type, or flood risk cover if water is also a worry. For empty homes awaiting repairs, look at unoccupied property insurance.

With your engineer’s report in front of you, start a subsidence cover quote on Tiger.co.uk. Look closely at the subsidence excess on each quote, as it can differ from the standard one.

Does building insurance cover subsidence?

It depends on the policy wording. Look for subsidence, heave and landslip in the list of insured events, and check the excess that applies to them. If your home has a subsidence history, a standard policy may exclude it, so tell the insurer.

Can I get home insurance with a history of subsidence?

Yes. Specialist insurers quote for homes with past subsidence, especially when repairs are finished and the house has been stable for some time. Have your engineer’s report and any certificate of structural adequacy ready.

Damp is a separate question from ground movement. Our guide on whether damp is covered by buildings insurance explains which types an insurer may pay for and why rising damp claims are usually refused.