IF you have made a subsidence claim in the past then you will need specialist subsidence insurance from a Broker that understands the specific issues facing a properties affected by subsidence and have the markets to provide you with a great deal.
Whilst many people in the UK welcomed the recent warm dry spell we are now unfortunately officially experiencing drought conditions, the drought that is gripping most parts of our great nation. As the ground becomes parched, soil levels may drop, leading to an increase in property subsidence claims as homeowners face damage, so ultimately any prolonged drought may cause havoc with homes and a dramatic increase in the number of subsidence claims.
Subsidence occurs when houses sink into the ground because of shifting soil. Large cracks appearing in walls over short periods of time and doors and windows that seem to slant are all indicators of subsidence. If left untreated, the problem can only worsen. This can lead to thousands of pounds worth of damage, with underpinning and shoring up needed for many homes that are badly affected.
Insurance industry commentators are predicting a dramatic increase in subsidence claims in 2012 due to the dry weather, but that needs to be tempered slightly and there certainly shouldn’t be widespread panic. Cracks in walls are the simplest way to spot structural movement, but that doesn’t always mean a potential subsidence claim. Take my own circumstances, we live in a new build property and have small cracks appearing on both internal and external walls but we are told this normal and is explained by natural settlement of the property. Living in an area of clay soil however still makes me nervous and we keep a very close eye on the existing cracks to see whether they develop.
Due to the high costs involved, most insurers prefer not to quote for buildings cover if the property has experienced subsidence damage, or if you live in an area deemed to be high risk of subsidence, best case in those instances is your existing insurance company continuing cover but with inflated premiums.
Specialist subsidence insurance is much different from standard home insurance. It matches your needs with a policy that is tailor made for the hazards of future subsidence claims. This specialist approach is exactly what you need if you want to save money. It fits the insurance policy with your risk as exactly as possible.
The Property Insurer works with one of the best specialist subsidence insurance providers in the UK and it will do its best to provide comprehensive insurance cover at a realistic price. Visit The Property Insurer today and click on the subsidence insurance button.
Doug Phelan
The Property Insurer
