We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Life after subsidence!

Options
Hi
Can anyone help over a problem my home contents insurance please. 3 years ago we noticed a crack in our external garage wall (garage is attached to house, but as a 'lean-to' rather than a proper attachment). Insurer sent their engineer, and the damage turned out to be neighbour's tree. Tree was taken out, we paid for repairs as they were cosmetic only, engineer signed off as fine.

Now my dilemma is that question from insurers about flooding/subsidence etc. As soon as I mention the incident, they run for cover! The area is sound, the problem finished with but I'm going to be paying the price for ever it seems! Any advice from the experts would be gratefully accepted!

btw, I'm still with the same buildings insurer, daren't shop around for that!
Thanks

Comments

  • amboy
    amboy Posts: 386 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    I am afraid thats how it is, I bought a house that had subsidence in the past, the house had put off so many people due to the stigma, but IMO as long as the work has been signed off by surveyors etc then it will be one odf the strongest houses in street that is prone to subsidence.

    Insurers on the other hand like you say run a mile, your current insurer is obliged to keep insuring, you cannot speak to the normal call centre etc as they have to pass you on to subsidence dept.

    One point of interest however is that I brought up this isuue with my solicitor whom I have used many times and he said that IHO seen as the the subsidence was nearly over 10 years ago it isnt worth mentioning, obviously in light that there was full survey reports, works carried out and all signed off by relevant people.
    My Shop Is Your Shop
  • You must answer the question truthfully, otherwise you risk invalidating your cover.

    However, the risk arising for a contents policy is not the same as under a buildings policy. Any claim under a contents policy for subsidence is likely to be limited to a 50% share of alternative accommodation costs only - there is no likelihood of damage to the contents of the house (furnishings etc) through subsidence.

    Are you saying that you have declared a (closed) subsidence claim on a proposal for contents insurance and the insurers have refused cover? If so, why?

    Can your buildings insurers not offer contents cover?
  • andyrules
    andyrules Posts: 3,558 Forumite
    There's no risk to any part of the buildings or contents now, the work was inspected and the claim closed by the insurer. It was all very minimal anyway, just a bit of repointing and the tree removed. Trouble is, they now have me over a barrel to charge whatever - I can no longer shop around, or when I do the premium is high anyway as soon as I declare it. Insurers are treating it as if I'd had major underpinning and relocation costs. In the event, I didn't even claim as the work amounted to much less than the excess.

    I think I'll have to move!!
  • Have you tried a broker who may have knowledge of specialist insurance companies?
  • andyrules
    andyrules Posts: 3,558 Forumite
    Have you tried a broker who may have knowledge of specialist insurance companies?


    No, didn't know about that, do you know who would be best to try?
  • Have a look in your local Phone book under Insurance brokers and phone one or two to see how you get on.
    I have no knowledge of brokers or insurance companies names that I could recommend.
  • andyrules wrote:
    Insurer sent their engineer, and the damage turned out to be neighbour's tree. Tree was taken out, we paid for repairs as they were cosmetic only, engineer signed off as fine.

    I'm not so sure that this is strictly subsidence. The kind of subsidence that has insurers worried is that where the ground is shifting and it cannot be stopped.

    In your case, you had damage caused by an ingress of tree roots.

    Your best bet is to try and talk directly to an underwriter, who ought to understand the previous claim precisely and calculate the premium accordingly.

    A high street broker might be able to help here.
    Warning ..... I'm a peri-menopausal axe-wielding maniac ;)
  • From the original post, the damage was a cracked wall (above ground). By implication, movement of the foundation of the garage due to the presence of the tree sucking moisture from the soil, causing soil shrinkage below the garage foundation = subsidence (albeit minor in this case).

    Solution conducted - remove the affect of the tree, thus stabilising the soil below the garage wall & fill crack (cosmetics - no foundation work required as foundations no longer at risk of soil shrinkage /movement).

    Tree root "damage" is a different thing, i.e. breakage of drains or concrete foundations due to the direct encroachment of the roots rather than effects of root presence on soil moisture content.

    Subsidence /heave as covered by insurance is where there is movement of the foundations, whatever the cause(s).
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 350.8K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.5K Spending & Discounts
  • 243.8K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.6K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.8K Life & Family
  • 257.1K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.