Subsidence: everything you need to know
by Admin
Posted on 27-03-2023 11:43 AM
Got a sinking feeling there’s something wrong with your home? find out what subsidence is, the tell-tale signs you shouldn’t ignore, and when and how to make an insurance claim. By emma mitra
you thought your home was your perfect partner. The bright rooms, the convenient location, the interesting view. But in time, like any relationship, a few cracks started to appear. They were small and barely noticeable at first, but now they’re getting bigger and you’re wondering if your home really is quite so perfect after all, and if you might have a bit of a problem on your hands.
Clay shrinkage is one of the most common causes of subsidence. Clay is made up of about 30% to 35% water, so soil with a high clay content can dry out as a result of nearby vegetation sapping the water, particularly during long, hot summers. The volume of the soil decreases and the building's foundations subside.
The foundations of subsidence
The four main causes of subsidence are:
clay soil shrinking following long spells of dry weather
trees and other vegetation taking moisture from the soil causing it to shrink
leaking drains, which wash away the subsoil below your foundations
mining activity.
Subsidence is where the ground beneath your building sinks and pulls the foundations down with it. This causes cracks to appear in your building’s walls and floors and can eventually mean your property leans to one side and is structurally unsound. Here are a few common causes of subsidence: clay shrinkage – if clay-rich soil gets too dry, it loses volume and can move your home’s foundations trees – large roots can disrupt the earth beneath your home escape of water – the ground becomes softer, causing your home to sink solution features – this is where soil erodes and creates an underground cavern, which could give way and cause subsidence.
Making a subsidence claim
subsidence insurance claimHomeowners often find it difficult or expensive to get property insurance after making a subsidence claim. Getting cover from your current insurance provider under abi guidance, abi member companies are committed to working with policyholders to manage ongoing subsidence risk and maintain cover, however there may be circumstances where continuation of cover is not possible. Getting cover from a new insurance provider.
Finding a suitable buildings insurance policy after making a claim can prove tricky, but it’s far from impossible. You will, however, probably have to pay more for your cover. Declaring subsidence to your insurer will probably lead to more questions being asked about the issue, these may include: how long ago was the property affected by subsidence? what caused the issue? other questions may also be asked, but the above will give you a rough idea of what information insurers will need in order to tailor your quote. You will also be required to prove the work was completed properly by way of documents such as structural buildings surveys, home buyers reports, certificate of structural adequacy, and/or structural engineer reports.
Mine subsidence is generally defined as ground movement — lateral or vertical — caused from the sinking, shifting or collapsing of man-made underground mines. The types of mines that cause subsidence may include coal, clay, limestone or fluorspar. The risk is generally concentrated in parts of the country with high numbers of homes positioned near abandoned coal mines, such as in pennsylvania and illinois. Abandoned mines can have a variety of damaging effects on the integrity of the land located directly above the mines, or even in the mines' surrounding area. A collapse of pillars supporting a mine roof can result in so-called sag or trough subsidence, the most common type of subsidence, in which a depression in the ground can spread over several acres.
If your property has had problems with subsidence in the past, you are likely to have trouble getting the cover you need when you look to purchase home insurance, even if the problem has already been fixed for some time. With homeprotect, this is not the case. We aim to deliver a competitive online quote for subsidence insurance , based on the risk your property represents now, not on the risk it represented whilst being repaired.