Your guide to subsidence and underpinned property insurance
Useful information on how to secure the insurance you need.
Read moreIf your home has been affected by subsidence, heave or landslip, or it’s in an area that is prone to these risks, you may already be aware of how difficult it can be to find comprehensive home insurance cover at a reasonable price. Even if the subsidence happened long ago, some property owners can still have difficulty finding suitable cover. Our team of non-standard insurance experts will take the time to fully understand the history of your property to ensure we find the right cover, approaching a specialist panel of insurers to get you a quote there and then (in most cases). As part of our subsidence home insurance cover, you’ll also receive:
We’ll protect your buildings against risks such as fire, flood, earthquake and storm damage for properties that have suffered from subsidence, heave or landslip, or are situated in high-risk areas.
Up to £2 million property owners liability cover to protect you against compensation claims raised by third parties that have been injured as a result of the property not being maintained, such as a tile falling off the roof and injuring a passer-by or a visitor tripping over a broken stair.
We’ll protect your buildings and contents against theft, attempted theft and malicious damage – although we don’t cover claims by deception, for example, you give you keys to a contractor who then steals from your home.
We'll provide a quick, efficient and tailored service for your subsidence home insurance. Our dedicated team of non-standard insurance experts have years of experience in dealing with subsidence risks.
Finding the right subsidence home insurance for your property can be a long-winded and complicated process. We’ve taken the time to answer some of our customers’ most frequently asked questions so you have all the information you need when you go to get a quote.
Subsidence is caused when a building’s structure starts to slowly sink due to the ground being unstable. There are a number of causes of subsidence, the most common being;
Heave can also cause issues for properties, which is where the ground swells rather than shrinks, causing similar structural problems.
The clearest sign of subsidence is the appearance of cracks in your walls – although it’s important to remember that lots of buildings have cracks, so there’s no need to worry about every crack you see. Subsidence cracks can usually be identified due to their sudden appearance around the plasterwork of doorways and windows, and the fact that they’re diagonal.
If you think you may have noticed signs of subsidence, then it’s important to contact your home insurance provider as soon as possible so they can let you know what to do next. In most cases, there is a simple solution to a subsidence problem – such as removing a tree from the front garden or maintaining the drains. In severe cases, your property may require underpinning, which is the process of strengthening the foundation of your home.
Although there are a few easy things you can do to avoid subsidence – such as maintaining your garden and underground pipes, as well as not planting trees too close to your property – there is no sure-fire way to protect your home from subsidence. If you’re looking to purchase a property, it’s a good idea to check the home buyers report or buildings survey (if you choose to get one) carefully as this will provide details of any history of subsidence or underpinning.
Unfortunately, we are unable to provide cover for properties that are currently suffering from subsidence here at Endsleigh - we are only able to provide cover for properties that have suffered from subsidence in the past or have been underpinned.
If you have an ongoing subsidence claim for your property, it will be your current insurer’s responsibility to maintain cover for the duration of the claim, even if you take out cover elsewhere. For more information, please call our dedicated subsidence insurance team on 0333 234 1507.
There are number of factors that could affect your chances of obtaining home insurance that includes subsidence cover. We will ask for the following information in order to begin the quotation process: How long ago did your property suffer from subsidence, heave or landslip? What was the cause of the subsidence, heave or landslip? Causes of subsidence could include things like clay shrinkage, mining or a nearby escape of water. How was the problem fixed? Please provide us with details of any underpinning or renovation work on your property as a result of subsidence. Has there been any movement since the problem was fixed? Do you have any documentation (such as a Certificate of Structural Adequacy) to confirm that there have been no problems since? If there was a previous subsidence claim made, how much was this for?
With over 15 years’ experience in the non-standard property sector, we provide expert consultation to find the right subsidence insurance for your home. Our expert non-standard property team will take the time to understand your unique situation and can provide you with comprehensive insurance options for your buildings, contents and property owners’ liability insurance.
Comprehensive buildings and contents insurance cover for properties that have previously suffered from flooding. Find out more.
Gap between tenancies? We can provide cover for your home if it’s left unoccupied for an extended period of time.
Trying to find cover for your flat roof home? Our flexible flat roof home insurance for all types of flat roof properties.
Buildings and contents insurance cover for listed properties or homes over 100 years old
Converting a barn into your new home? We can provide home insurance for your part-renovated or completed barn.
Buildings cover for your home if it’s being renovated or refurbished, either by you or a professional contractor.
Our friendly team are ready to talk to you:
Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm
Call us on 0333 234 1507