Historical Coal Authority "Subsidence" Claim History

Gbean87

Hi,
I have recently bought a house in a city which has a history of Coal Mining nearby.
When the solicitor did the searches, there was a claim for "subsidence" listed on the house with the coal authority.

Apparently, this is quite common in the area, on the basis that back in the late 90s, a number of salespeople went door to door knocking effectively offering to have the house redecorated for free (claiming against the coal authority) and the previous owner from that time clearly took them up on the offer.

The house I have bought has never been underpinned and the invoice against the claim is basically a bit of wallpapering and some rendering. The house has since had an extension built - which I'm sure wouldn't be possible if there had been prior subsidence ??? We've also had surveys and the previous owner had surveys completed and no evidence of subsidence was found.

Basically, I am now really struggling with cheap home insurance on the basis that I have to declare subsidence even though I'm wholly sure there never was any.

Does anyone know if there is any way we can contest the claim history with the Coal Authority?

So far, I have only found 2 insurers that ask "in the last ten years has your home shown any signs of subsidence" and these come at a premium price. Everyone else seems to ask "has your home ever......"

I'm sure we aren't the only ones that have come across this problem, so any help anyone can give would be gratefully received!!


Thanks :j:cool2::question:

Furts

Have you tried insurance brokers with local knowledge?

alumende27

There are plenty of specialist insurance brokers who are used to dealing houses that have had historic subsidence.

I use woodstock, a subsidiary of Endsleigh, who were happy to insure my house despite it being partially underpinned only 6 months before I bought it. I'm paying around double what I would if it hadn't had a history of subsidence and have an excess of £2K on any future subsidence claim. HomeProtect is another one. Either of them should be able to provide advice on your specific circumstances, but you'll need to speak to them by phone to go over the details. If all that was claimed on the insurance was "a bit of wallpapering and some rendering." then I doubt you'll have many problems.

From memory I think AXA or Aviva only want to know if there was a subsidence claim in the last 10 years.

Do you know when the claim was made, presumably in the last 10 years? I can't help with your question about contesting the claim history with the Coal Authority. I'd imagine though if a claim was made for subsidence and they paid out, however flimsy a case it might have been, it nevertheless counts and you'll have trouble contesting it.