Buildings & content insurance - subsidence issue

scrub

Just looking for building and contents insurance for my elderly mother on the comparison sites. The thing is a few years ago, an outhouse on the back of the garage subsided because of a neighbour's large tree roots drying out the land. The tree was cut down and the outhouse rebuilt and there's been no problems since. However, it looks like I have to declare the property as having suffered from subsidence according to the forms. On 'compare the market' site, only one insurers would give a quote!

The building isn't attached to the house but I'm concerned if I say 'no, it's not suffered subsidence' and something did go wrong, the insurance would be invalidated.

Any advice?

huckster

You have to phone around to explain this. They might want to see the paperwork confirming that it was subs to an outbuilding only, caused by tree roots and have been rebuilt etc.

Being that it is for your mother, she will need to phone companies, as it would be her having to answer any questions, as the policy would be in her name.

Don't arrange quotes or cover online, as it will not be valid. Whenever you have had subs, you have to discuss this and the Insurers may want to see certain documents.

scrub

Great thanks. We've got all the documentation. I will do the preliminary search and then get them to sort it out with Mum!

scrub

Just a quick update. I was surprised how many companies won't even touch you if you've had a subsidence claim!

Original quote turned out to be perfectly reasonable so we've stuck with it.

Sally_A

I moved back in to the family home. Built in 1960, but cracks appeared in the hot summer of 1976. It's only because I am aware of the full history of the house that I declared this, and advised the insurers that checks were taken but there has been no movement since. I've not had an issue obtaining insurance.

If it wasn't the family home, and all I could declare to insurers "There are some cracks" it would be treated totally differently.

In my opinion the chimney still looks a bit scary, the cracks are probably due to the many chimney fires.

Pointing out these defects to the local Tax Office did help reduce the Inheritance Tax , but be totally open with your insurers, and you should not be penalised, standard subsidence excess is £1000, if you are confident you won't subside go for a larger excess - you may need to go through a broker for this.