Home insurance and subsidence

Hannimal

I am in the process of buying a new home but the house is in an area that is identified as having moderate to high risk of natural ground subsidence. The search result is based on properties of the ground rather than any actual observed subsidence. I understand that I need to declare this when i get the place insured. however, the comparison sites and the websites only ask if there has been any subsidence in the past 10 years to this or neighbouring properties, and I believe there has not been any of that. 
Most of the websites have wording around subsidence that goes something like "Has the property, or any neighbouring properties, ever shown signs of or been monitored for subsidence, landslip or heave, or needed any structural support?" (this is a quote from one of the sites). 

I also cannot find in insurer terms and conditions any mention that the place would not be covered for subsidence when I look at existing insurance products. 

I am worried about taking out insurance that is void because it is known that the land is at high risk of natural subsidence, even when there is no actual evidence of subsidence in any of the properties in the area, as far as I am aware. 

How do I ensure I have taken the appropriate insurance please?

Sandtree

Answer the question honestly to get your quotes and contact the insurer/broker in question BEFORE buying to discuss the matter with them.

It is generally speaking an insurers obligation to ask consumers the appropriate questions rather than to expect an insured to know something not covered by the questions is relevant and needs to be declared.

Hannimal

I did answer the questions honestly but this doesn't come up in the questions. I am worried about whether I need to be getting something with a higher premium because of this or not. 

Sandtree

Hence ask the question before buying... or go via an advisory broker though for consumer products it may well end up costing more for the same cover but at least you've got someone elses insurance on the line if they give bad advice.

davidmcn

Hannimal said:

The search result is based on properties of the ground rather than any actual observed subsidence. I understand that I need to declare this when i get the place insured.?

Where did you get this "understanding" from? It's incorrect, and you're fretting unnecessarily. You only need to answer the questions asked.

Insurers have access to the same data as you do about general levels of ground stability, flood risk etc and will already have allocated risk accordingly by postcode.

Hannimal

Thank you @davidmcn - now that you ask I don't know where I got this understanding from. The point about the postcode is very helpful.