Subsidence home insurance

It may be possible to arrange buildings and contents insurance for a property with previous subsidence.

The insurer will consider what caused the movement, when it occurred, whether repairs were completed and whether there have been any further signs of movement. Reports, repair records or a Certificate of Structural Adequacy may help support the application.

Every property is assessed individually, and cover cannot be guaranteed in all circumstances.

This will depend on the history and current condition of the property and the insurer considering it.

A policy may include subsidence, heave and landslip cover, apply a different excess or exclude subsidence-related damage. Your quotation and policy schedule will clearly show the cover and terms available before you purchase the policy.

Many buildings insurance policies cover loss or damage caused by subsidence, heave and landslip, subject to the policy terms and excess.

Where there is previous or suspected structural movement, this cover may be restricted or excluded. Damage that existed before the policy began will not be covered.

The policy schedule and any endorsements will confirm what applies to your property.

We will normally ask about when the movement occurred, what caused it, which parts of the property were affected and whether a claim was made.

We may also need details of investigations, monitoring, underpinning or other remedial work. Supporting documents could include structural reports, repair invoices, monitoring results or a Certificate of Structural Adequacy.

The information required will depend on the property and its history.

Not in every case.

A Certificate of Structural Adequacy records that specified structural repairs were completed satisfactorily. It can help an insurer understand previous work, but other reports or evidence may also be acceptable.

We will let you know whether a certificate or further documentation is required for your application.

Learn more about Certificates of Structural Adequacy

Arranging new insurance can be more difficult while movement is still being monitored.

A new insurer is unlikely to include subsidence cover until the investigation has concluded, although buildings insurance with subsidence excluded may be considered in some circumstances.

If an existing insurer is handling an accepted subsidence claim and will continue the policy, remaining with that insurer will often be the most practical option.

Read our guide to insurance during subsidence monitoring

A subsidence excess is the amount you must contribute towards an accepted subsidence claim.

It is often different from the standard buildings insurance excess. The amount can vary between policies and may be affected by the property’s history.

Your quotation and policy schedule will show the subsidence excess that applies.

The cost will depend on the property, location, rebuild value and the cover selected. The insurer will also consider the cause and history of any movement, the work completed and whether subsidence cover can be included.

Because every property is different, an individual quotation is needed to confirm the premium and terms available.

You should answer the questions asked by the insurer fully and accurately.

If the application asks whether the property has ever experienced subsidence or structural movement, you should disclose it regardless of how long ago it happened. If the question specifies a particular period, answer according to that period.

Failing to provide accurate information could affect the cover or how a future claim is handled.

Contents insurance may be available alongside buildings insurance or, in some circumstances, as separate cover.

Contents insurance protects eligible belongings against the insured events shown in the policy. It does not cover every type of loss or damage, and the applicable limits and exclusions will be confirmed in your policy documents.