Subsidence hotspots are areas where the underlying ground is especially prone to shrink-swell or voiding, making subsidence more likely to occur there. If you already live in this kind of hotspot, you can still lower the odds of damage by taking a few careful measures and steps. By understanding the risks of home subsidence, knowing how your insurance provider can help, and adopting sensible preventative measures, even those living in subsidence hotspots can reduce their exposure. Below, we explain what to do next if you live in a high‑risk area.
Understanding the Risks of Home Subsidence
Home subsidence can cause many problems for homeowners, from cracked walls and distorted floors to jammed doors and ruptured drains. These structural issues can be very expensive to fix and may depress a property’s value as well as complicate insurance claims. People who live in subsidence hotspots face a higher risk of such problems, as their homes sit on ground where movement is more common. Use a subsidence postcode checker to see whether your area carries a higher risk.
Call your Insurance Provider
It is important to tell your buildings insurance provider if you live in a subsidence hotspot. Letting them know you are in a high‑risk zone ensures your policy actually covers subsidence, as some ‘standard policies’ exclude or are limited unless you declare the risk up front. Early disclosure protects you from a claim being rejected for non‑notification and allows the insurer to suggest any preventative measures.
Will I Be Able to Sell My House in the Future?
Yes; you are still able to sell your home in the future if you live in a subsidence hotspot, but buyers and lenders usually expect evidence that the risk has been and continues to be managed. Ensure you keep any engineering or survey reports, drain-survey certificates, and any completion guarantees for resin injections or underpinning that you might have had ready for solicitors to secure a normal sale.
Check your Property
Homeowners also need to check their properties regularly when they live in a hotspot to ensure no subsidence is present. Look for any new cracks in exterior and interior walls, gaps around window frames, and uneven floors. Arrange a CCTV drain survey every few years, inspect gutters and downpipes, and watch for sudden jumps in water‑meter readings. All of these checks help to make sure home subsidence is not affecting your property.
How to Lower the Risks of Subsidence
There are a number of practical steps to take to reduce the risk of subsidence affecting your home, even if you live in a known hotspot. Below are three measures to put into practice.
- Tree Care: Look after the trees around your property by pruning them regularly, and always seek professional advice before removing a large specimen so the ground does not heave as it rehydrates. Ensure you plant new trees well away from the foundations and choose smaller, less‑thirsty species.
- Check the Drains: Broken or leaking underground pipes wash fine particles from the soil, undermining the footings. Arrange periodic CCTV surveys, or at least keep an eye out for slow‑running gullies and unpleasant odours. Prompt drain repairs will also help prevent voids from forming.
- Watch Out for Leaks: Dripping taps, defective overflows or leaking heating pipes might seem minor, but a constant trickle beside a wall can soften the ground. Fix indoor plumbing faults promptly, and inspect external taps, gutters and downpipes to ensure water is channelled safely away from the building.
Need Professional Help? Get in Touch with Subsidence Ltd
If subsidence is visible in your property, get in touch with the expert team at Subsidence Ltd. We help homeowners across the UK using specialised resin injections and can resolve subsidence problems in as little as a day without the need for underpinning. Our subsidence repairs are priced competitively, and use our subsidence repairs checker to estimate the repair costs. Simply fill out our online contact form or call us directly today to receive a free, no‑obligation quote for subsidence repairs.
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