How does subsidence affect home insurance?

What is subsidence?

Subsidence is more than a sinking feeling – it’s the ground beneath your home literally caving in, pulling the foundations of your home down with it. Sometimes, it might be confused with landslip. You can distinguish between the two, as subsidence refers to sinking – a vertical dropping in your home, whereas heave and landslip would cause mostly horizontal movement.

Signs of subsidence

There are ways to know if you’re in a subsiding house, and it probably won’t happen overnight. As the building sinks, there will be notable signs of subsidence that appear overtime.

Common signs of subsidence in a house include:

Large cracks in the walls, both inside and out.
Sloping or sinking floors.
Your building leaning.
Extensions cracking or breaking off from a property.
Doors and/or windows becoming misaligned, causing them to stick.
Creasing on your wallpaper, like damp but without the water marks.
Gaps in and around the skirting boards.

Causes of subsidence

There are a lot of potential causes for subsidence, ranging from the weather, the type of soil to the geography of trees.

Poor foundations are a common cause of subsidence, especially with older homes.
Soil types, such as clay or silt can suffer from shrinkage, especially during long dry spells. On the other hand, non-cohesive soils such as sand don’t absorb water, but are at risk of being washed away.
Tree roots can cause issues if planted close to your home, depending on the type of soil, climate, and the type of tree. Oak, willows, ash and sycamore trees are notable problems in the wrong conditions.
Leaks, such as from a burst pipe, can cause subsidence in non-cohesive soils and lead to the opposite of subsidence (heave).
Mining can cause subsidence, as the ground around or beneath your home is weakened. If a mine collapses, this can have ramifications on the surroundings.

More Information

Does home insurance cover subsidence?

Yes, home insurance is made for those foundation-shaking events that can upturn your life, just like subsidence. With Sainsbury’s Bank Buildings Insurance, you’re covered against subsidence as long as it’s not happened before. It’s important to know that if a building has been affected by subsidence, it can be difficult to get insurance and it may cost more.

What will I be covered for?

If your house is subsiding or experiencing heave or landslip , then Sainsbury’s Bank Buildings Insurance could:

Cover the damage caused to the building structure, including repair or rebuilding up to a set amount.
Provide alternative accommodation during repairs if your home is rendered uninhabitable.
Offer legal protection, with a chosen add-on.

What won’t I be covered for?

If your house suffers from subsidence, heave or landslip, your insurance policy won’t be able to cover those things that aren’t part of the actual building, such as garden walls, fences, gates, patios and your driveway. Additionally, in some instances such as construction, erosions, or when compensation has already been provided, you may not be covered .

What to do if you notice subsidence

If you notice the signs of subsidence, heave or landslip, or you know that your home is subsiding, the first thing you should do is contact your insurer as soon as possible.

Depending on what’s reported, your insurer might send a specialist to assess the potential damage. If movement is notable, your home may be surveyed and monitored over time, while engineers consider a long-term solution.

In severe cases, your property might need to be underpinned – a method of securing your home against further subsidence by strengthening or deepening its foundations.

If your home is okay, with only minor damage and no further movement, repairs can be carried out without too much worry.

Optional home insurance extras

Home emergency cover

Home emergency cover means you can call us 24/7, so you’re always ready if disaster strikes. Whether it’s a blocked drain, a broken boiler, or a slowly sinking home, we can assist you ASAP, and even get one of our authorised contractors out to you if the situation needs it.

It’s not just about fixing the problem, we can give you the best course of action for your property, and for the people inside.

Enhanced accidental damage cover

With enhanced accidental damage cover, you can get cover for your pipes, locks, electrics and any damage done in search of a leak. If a water leak is causing problems in your foundations, this could help to protect the work needed to find and shore it up.

Learn more about enhanced accidental damage.

Frequently asked questions

Should I tell my insurance company about subsidence?

Yes, you should let your insurer know as soon as possible about any subsidence or any movement of your property by heave of landslip, as well as the damage it has caused. This could prevent further issues in the future.

Is it safe to live in a house with subsidence?

Depending on the severity, a bit of damage from subsidence isn’t too worrisome to repair and you can live there. However, if your house is actively subsiding or experiencing further heave or landslip, then you may need to find alternative accommodation. Speak to your insurer if you notice any signs of subsidence.

Can subsidence be fixed without underpinning?

Yes, subsidence can be fixed without underpinning in some scenarios. Resin injections can stabilise the ground, and tree management can stop damage too. Additionally, cosmetic repairs can undo a lot of the damage. Only a small portion of subsiding houses need underpinning.

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