Cracks appearing in your walls?
Does Home Insurance Cover Subsidence? (UK)
Subsidence is covered by most UK buildings policies — but with a £1,000 excess and strict wording. Check yours in 60 seconds with PolicyPal.
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Is your situation covered?
| Scenario | Typical verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Cracks from clay-shrinkage in a hot summer | Usually covered | Standard subsidence peril on UK buildings cover. |
| Cracks from a leaking drain undermining the foundations | Usually covered | Treated as subsidence by escape of water — usually paid. |
| Settlement in a new-build within the first 10 years | Usually not | Excluded — claim under NHBC / structural warranty instead. |
| Cracks that existed when you took out the policy | Usually not | Pre-existing damage is excluded — non-disclosure risk. |
| Heave or landslip after tree removal | Depends on wording | Some insurers exclude heave; others bundle it with subsidence. |
General industry patterns. Your actual cover lives in your policy wording — PolicyPal reads it for you.
The short answer
Subsidence is a standard peril on UK buildings insurance, with a typical excess of £1,000 (sometimes £2,500). Cover only triggers when downward movement is caused by ground conditions — clay shrinkage, leaking drains, nearby trees, or mining. Cracks from initial settlement, thermal expansion, or pre-existing damage are excluded.
Why policy wording matters here
ABI-style wording is broadly similar across UK insurers, but the exclusions differ in important ways:
- Some policies exclude heave and landslip even when they cover subsidence.
- Many require notification within 30 days of the first crack appearing.
- Properties with prior subsidence history often carry a £2,500–£5,000 excess.
- Outbuildings, walls, gates and patios are usually excluded from subsidence cover.
What PolicyPal checks
Upload your schedule and PolicyPal extracts the subsidence excess, exclusions for heave/landslip, the notification window, and whether outbuildings are covered — so you know before the loss adjuster arrives.
Common reasons subsidence claims get rejected
Most rejections are avoidable with the right evidence.
- Cracks attributed to settlement, not subsidence (need monitoring data).
- Late notification — first crack photographed months earlier.
- Failure to disclose nearby trees or prior movement at inception.
- Damage limited to outbuildings or boundary walls.
- Claim filed under contents instead of buildings.
Frequently asked
- What is the typical subsidence excess in the UK?
- £1,000 is standard, rising to £2,500 or £5,000 for properties with prior subsidence history. The excess applies per claim, not per crack.
- Will a subsidence claim make my house unsellable?
- No, but it must be declared to future insurers. A Certificate of Structural Adequacy from your loss adjuster is what buyers and lenders look for.
- Does buildings insurance cover crack repairs without subsidence?
- Cosmetic cracks from drying out or thermal movement are excluded across every UK policy. The cause must be ground movement.
- How long does a subsidence claim take?
- Typically 12 months — monitoring runs for a full seasonal cycle before underpinning or repair is agreed.
- Should I get a survey before claiming?
- No — call your insurer first. Independent surveys before notification can complicate the claim. PolicyPal can confirm your notification clause in 60 seconds.
- Are tree-root claims always covered?
- Only when the tree caused soil shrinkage that moved the foundations. The insurer will usually require removal of the tree as part of the repair.
Your policy is the only source of truth
Stop guessing. Check your actual policy.
Generic answers don't pay claims. PolicyPal reads your policy wording in seconds and tells you, in one sentence, whether you're covered.