Subsidence claims to rise after heatwave

The heatwave will cause tens of thousands of homes to sink and prompt subsidence claims to quadruple, insurers have warned. Over the past two months the record breaking spell of hot and dry weather has caused the soil to shrink, which will result in many homes sinking into the ground later this year, it is claimed. Last year there were around 12,000 insurance claims for subsidence, industry figures show, but this year the figure could rise to nearly 50,000.

THE heatwave will cause tens of thousands of homes to sink and prompt subsidence claims to quadruple, insurers have warned.

Over the past two months the record breaking spell of hot and dry weather has caused the soil to shrink, which will result in many homes sinking into the ground later this year, it is claimed.

Symptoms of subsidence such as cracked walls usually appear several months after the damage is done, meaning homeowners could be forced into temporary accommodation over Christmas while their homes are being fixed. In the worst cases subsidence can take as long as a year to put right.

Affected homeowners might also find their building insurance premiums rising by hundreds of pounds, because firms no longer want to insure them, experts said.

Last year there were around 12,000 insurance claims for subsidence, industry figures show, but this year the figure could rise to nearly 50,000.

One of Britain’s biggest insurers told The Daily Telegraph it was expecting four times as many claims as usual this year because of the heatwave, while another firm said it thought the number of claims could double.

Trevor Abrahmsohn, of property firm Glentree, compared this year’s drought to the summer of 1976 and said that homeowners may be forced to leave their homes. He said: “Subsidence can be so severe that it has required, in some cases, the complete rebuilding of the property, during which, the homeowner has had to move out of the property and into alternative accommodation while their home is made safe.”

Subsidence can cost up to £50,000 to fix, but in most cases the cost is covered by buildings insurance, meaning homeowners are spared the bill.

Rod Jones, of uswitch, the price comparison website, said that homeowners could find themselves being charged higher premiums because insurers were reluctant to insure higher risk properties. He said: “If your house suffers, or has historically suffered from subsidence, it can result in your buildings insurance premium being higher than normal. In some instances, this could even mean an insurer being unwilling to cover your property.”

He said that the problem would usually emerge months after the spell of dry weather, meaning homeowners should remain vigilant and monitor any cracks appearing in walls.

Subsidence occurs when the soil below a property shifts, causing cracks to appear in the walls. During periods of extended hot weather the soil below homes contracts more than normal.

Insurers say property owners should monitor any cracks which have developed, and to report any issues immediately. Homes built on clay soil, with shallow foundations or near large trees are said to be most at risk.