14 July 2025
Subsidence and home insurance – frequently asked questions
Obtaining cover for a home that has previously been affected by subsidence, landslip or historic movement can be difficult. Many insurers will simply say no, without asking for any more information, even if the movement was in the 19th century or before and if it isn’t getting worse. If you’re getting home insurance quotes online, be careful before you tick any boxes as you could be invalidating your policy if you agree that your home has not “been affected by any structural movement” and it has, no matter how long ago.
If you have a property which has been affected by subsidence here’s some frequently asked questions.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to disclose previous subsidence to my insurer?
Yes and pay attention to the question set which varies from insurer to insurer. “Has the property ever suffered from subsidence” is different to “has the property suffered from subsidence in the last twenty years”. Other questions include, “Has the property ever been underpinned”, “has the property ever been monitored for movement”. Answer incorrectly and you could find a claim declined or your policy cancelled.
Do I have to have subsidence cover?
Most mortgage providers will require that your home insurance includes subsidence cover. This is because of the potential damage that movement can cause to a property and the subsequent considerable costs that could reduce the value of a property on which the mortgage is held.
Can I get a home insurance quote if my home has been underpinned?
Yes you can. You may need a recent structural survey, especially if your home has been partially or fully underpinned, the subsidence was recent, or if you don’t have a certificate of structural adequacy.
Does a structural survey improve my change of obtaining home subsidence cover?
Usually, yes. A “clean” structural survey will give insurers confidence to quote. But it does need to be a structural survey from a qualified structural engineer or surveyor, not a mortgage survey or standard home insurance survey, though the latter in some instances may be acceptable. To find a structural engineer, go to the Institute of Structural Engineers website: https://www.istructe.org/find-an-engineer/
Can I choose to exclude subsidence cover from my home insurance.
Yes you can, but we don’t recommend it. This should be a backstop solution at best assuming you can’t get cover from the current insurer and no other insurer can provide subsidence insurance.
Should I report possible subsidence to my insurer?
If you are concerned with structural movement or diagonal cracking, you should call your broker or insurer. The insurer may appoint a loss adjuster and a period of monitoring. To read more about what you should do if you find subsidence read our article: Subsidence: What do you need to look out for?
I can’t get subsidence cover from an online insurer, what should I do?
Contact a specialist broker like Howden. We understand the challenges subsidence can bring and have relationships with insurers who can help.