Very Minor Subsidence / Home Insurance

Andy9376

Evening all,

I have recently discovered some cracks where my single storey extension meets the main house, and upon inspection from the loss adjusters, they have concluded that it is mnior subsidence due to a tree in a neighbouring garden. They estimate that the total repair costs will not exceed the 1k excess.

My major concern revolves around my ability to sell the house. I did a quick comparison website quote which returned no results, and I called Direct Line and told them that (hypothetically at this stage) the damage was minor, I never claimed, and the work had been signed off by a Structural Engineer. Again, no joy.

Is there any merit in not putting a claim in to repair the damage?

Are there any companies (aside from my current provider) who would insure the house? Is this (as I fear) going to create major problems when trying to sell the house?

This all just seems unfair. A tree in a neighbour's property causes minor damage that I may repair myself. The 'root' cause is removed, yet I struggle to sell as nobody will insure a house that has had subsidence...

jhe

i sympathise,around 15 years ago i claimed on insurance for minor subsidence caused by the gulley on the drive that collected water from the downpipe slightly moving under the drive. with me the local building inspector was also involved having to inspect and sign it off when completed, so there is a record of it with local council. i have paid through the nose for insurance ever since.
i have tried the subsidence insurance specialists the quotes were huge so i have stayed with my existing insurers all these years.

Andy9376

Have you ever tried to sell the house?

jhe

no but i expect the price will be affected by it unfortunatly. has your local bulding inspector been involved?

keystone

If its going to cost less than £1k which will be less than your excess why bother the insurance company which will only stuff your premiums through the roof anyway. Beware the phone call to an insurance company to discuss a "hypothetical" situation and "I am not making a claim" that turns out to have been entered and treated as a claim by the guy that took the call!!

If you have had loss adjusters round you must have been deemed to have made a claim surely?

BTW subsidence is entirely the wrong word for this IMHO. It should be referred to as settlement. Signed off by a Structural Engineer isn't much good to you. Its the BCO mans sig that counts and if he didn't like the look of the founds vis-a-vis the tree on inspection he would have required the builder to dig 'em deeper.

Cheers

Andy9376

Not yet. The loss adjuster came round today. He still needs to dig a hole but is 99% that the tree will just need to come down and the brickwork repointing. I may not even put the claim in and get it done myself. I'm just horrified that nobody would insure it, even if it was minor and repaired.

jhe

maybe someone could advise you better than me, but if i had known at the time the implications i would have had the repair done myself without involving insurers or building inspector.

keystone

but is 99% that the tree will just need to come down

Well thats making my alarm bells ring for starters. I can just imagine the look on your face when your neighbour tells you to do one - particularly if the tree was there first. How big is the tree, what brand is it and how far away from the extension is it? How long has the extension been up?

Cheers

Andy9376

Thanks Keystone.

I guess it is the system now. I just didn't know whether there would be any benefit in not actually claiming, if that makes sense.

I'll happily call it settlement, but the LA said it was subsidence.

nightmare

ormus

dont know how many times i have to say this on this forum, but you must only contact the insurance company as a last resort.
esp re any subsidence problem.
by all means get advice and quotes from builders etc... but think very carefully before asking the insurance co to pay up.
remember the excess, remember next years premium. and remember when it comes to selling the house.


once a problem is on record, its on record.

Andy9376

JHE - that's what I am starting to regret now...