a moderate to high potential for natural ground subsidence

Asas

I am in the process of buying a 70s townhouse. The environmental searches were back yesterday but too late to contact my solicitor.

It says that The property or an area within 25m has been assessed to have a Moderate-High potential for natural ground subsidence.

We've never suspected there was a potential subsidence problem so it was a shock. We just had a valuation yesterday and waiting for the report this Tuesday. We were planning to have a separate full structural survey after that. However I am not so sure if I go ahead with the purchase.

Does anyone have this problem before and what you have done, carry on buying or walk away?

kinger101

The condition of the actual property is more important than that of a large geographic area. I'd rely more on the actual survey. A chat with others living on the street might be informative too.

Insurers tend to have quite comprehensive databases on subsidence risk as well, based on historical claims data. These will have a higher resolution than the environmental survey. You could attempt to raise an insurance quotation and see if the quotes are excessive, or there is a high excess of subsidence.

The TA6 form should also flag any insurance issues.

bouicca21

Unless you are buying a property sitting over a mineshaft, it is almost certainly just about the soil - and every house in the area will produce the same result. Ring the surveyor on Monday to set your mind at ease.

Asas

Thank you for your replies. insurance quatations come as OK. So I will arrange the survey to make sure.

KayleighC

Hello,

We are having exactly the same problem we are in the process of buying our forst home a 1930s mid terrace house, all surveys come back with no issues but report shows moderate to high risk of natural ground subsidence. Solicitors / Lender will not allow us to move forward until we have proof of insurance.

Have tried a few but had a number of insurers decline us knowing the 'risk' even though there are no structural issues or history or subsidence.

Have you managed to find an insurer?

Many thanks
Kayleigh

dc197

Kayleigh. Your solicitor will not allow you to proceed without insurance regardless of soil conditions.
Ordinary insurance will be fine until a real issue arises.
The headline term in this thread applies to thousands of homes in my area (clay soil). Don't worry.

david1951

If you haven't already, try using a local surveyor - they may even have looked at properties on that road before.