Neighbouring tree roots causing subsidence in garage floor - can we get this repaired via insurance?

weston800

Hi all, we are going to be listing our house for sale later this year due to marriage break-up. However, our garage floor has very significant cracks in it which we believe is subsidence due to our neighbour's tree roots. We have subsidence cover within our home insurance, the excess is £1,000. I don't want to lodge a claim with them before getting some advice as I'm worried it'll hinder the sale of the house. Does anyone know if this type of claim is covered and what it'd involve? My husband is a joiner so could potentially just screed an re-concrete the floor but I'm sure it's not that simple and I'm wondering if it's best to just get it sorted via insurance?

I've uploaded my policy documents but blanked out any personal info: https://file.io/OiTGo0Ob6uf9

DullGreyGuy

Is the garage attached to the main building or freestanding? 

Has the neighbour agreed to deal with the tree?

Link doesn't work but to be honest easier to say who you're with and approx when you bought it as policy wordings are freely available online normally. 

Subsidence claims can go on for a very long time due to monitoring, are you happy with a delay in the sale?

weston800

DullGreyGuy said:

Is the garage attached to the main building or freestanding? 

Has the neighbour agreed to deal with the tree?

Link doesn't work but to be honest easier to say who you're with and approx when you bought it as policy wordings are freely available online normally. 

Subsidence claims can go on for a very long time due to monitoring, are you happy with a delay in the sale?

The garage is free standing.

Haven't spoken to the neighbour about the tree but his neighbour's on the other side have asked him to deal with some trees on that side but he's not interested, he says it's not on his priority list.

We're with DirectLine, just renewed with them this month - have been with them a 3 years but have 6 years no claims.

We're not in a rush to sell but I don't want too much of a delay - there's only so long you can live under the same roof with an ex

DullGreyGuy

Looking at their Standard and Plus levels of cover on both it would meet the definition of "Home" (some other brands outbuildings/garages are separate) however it says solid floor slabs are only covered for subsidence if the foundations are damaged by the subsidence too. 

So it's not clear cut and would require investigation. Having to sell a house thats got subsidence marked against its permanent record will be much more difficult than one that hasn't even if its just been to a separate building and not the main dwelling 

weston800

DullGreyGuy said:

Looking at their Standard and Plus levels of cover on both it would meet the definition of "Home" (some other brands outbuildings/garages are separate) however it says solid floor slabs are only covered for subsidence if the foundations are damaged by the subsidence too. 

So it's not clear cut and would require investigation. Having to sell a house thats got subsidence marked against its permanent record will be much more difficult than one that hasn't even if its just been to a separate building and not the main dwelling 

Ahh, well I didn't know this! Thank you. I absolutely don't want a subsidence marked against it permanently. I think this answers my question! Will get the husband to sort it himself, I think that's for the best 

lisyloo

How much of a problem is this?
Is it far from the house?

weston800

lisyloo said:

How much of a problem is this?
Is it far from the house?

It's not a problem physically, I'm just worried it'll hinder the sale of the house.
The garage can't actually be used as a garage for a car as it's in the back garden, you can drive to it but I can only just get my VW Lupo down that part of the drive - bigger cars won't fit down there. It's about 3 metres away from the house

lisyloo

Sorry but I think you're right to be worried.
As a buyer I would think 3m is close and subsidence is a major issue.
If you don't want a delayed sale I'd expect to take a cut on the price.