Does building insurance cover subsidence?
If you've spotted cracks in your walls or noticed doors and windows sticking, you may be concerned about subsidence and whether your building insurance will cover the cost of repairs. The good news is that most standard UK buildings insurance policies include subsidence cover. However, there are exclusions, excesses and claims processes you need to understand before making a claim. According to the Association of British Insurers ABI), subsidence-related insurance claims totalled £153 million in the first half of 2025 alone, highlighting the significant financial impact ground movement can have on homeowners. In this guide, we explain what subsidence insurance covers, what it doesn't, and what to do if you suspect your property is affected.
What does building insurance cover?
Most standard policies cover new and unexpected damage to your home and outbuildings caused by subsidence. If the damage to your property is severe, your insurance should also cover the costs of alternative accommodation for you and your household while repair works are carried out. It’s worth noting, however, that most policies will have an excess of £1,000 for a subsidence claim, which is your contribution towards the claim amount.
What does building insurance not cover?
Each policy is different, but some of the common exclusions in subsidence cover include:
Damage to external parts of the property: fences, garden walls, patios and driveways are not typically covered, unless the main house is damaged too.
Pre-existing damage: general wear and tear, poor maintenance or damage that occurred before your policy started may not be covered.
DIY jobs: Any damage that occurs while you’re making structural changes or repairs.
Faulty workmanship: Any damage caused by faulty design, construction or materials.
You should read your policy carefully, so you understand what’s covered and what isn’t.
Will making a subsidence claim increase the cost of my home insurance?
As with many insurance claims, your insurance premiums are likely to increase. This is because there is a higher risk of your property having subsidence again. Comparing deals from multiple insurers will help you find the best quote.
What are the signs of subsidence and what causes it?
Subsidence is the gradual, downward movement of the ground beneath a property. If left untreated, it can cause significant structural damage to your home, because it causes your foundations to sink. Some signs to watch out for include:
Wall cracks wider than a 10p coin
Diagonal or horizontal cracks in walls
Uneven or sloping floors
Sticking doors and windows
Bulging or bowing walls
In the UK, the most common cause of subsidence is the shrink-swell movement of clay soils during prolonged dry and wet weather cycles. Data from the ABI shows that approximately 60% of subsidence claims are linked to root-induced clay shrinkage.
Clay soils expand when wet and shrink when dry causing the soil beneath your property to shift or settle unevenly. Other factors include tree roots extracting excessive amounts of moisture from the soil and drainage problems on your property.
A surveyor or ground engineering specialist will be able to determine the exact cause. When you make a claim, your insurer will arrange for someone to visit your property.
What should you do if you suspect subsidence?
If you suspect you’re experiencing subsidence and want to make a claim, here’s a step-by-step guide:
Keep documents of the damage. Take photos of any unusual cracks or structural issues, e.g. gaps between skirting boards and the floor. Keep a record of when you first noticed them and whether they’ve grown wider or longer over time.
Contact your insurer. The earlier you contact your insurer the better, this is so the claims process can start as quickly as possible.
Get a professional assessment. Your insurer will most likely be in touch with a third-party specialist, i.e. a loss adjuster and a structural engineer to investigate your property to determine the severity of the damage and its cause.
Monitor the property. The structural engineer may need to monitor the property over a few weeks or several months. Following their assessment, the loss adjustor will be in touch with the insurer to report their findings.
The outcome. If your claim is approved, your insurance company will arrange for the repair work to be done. The amount of repair work needed will depend on the severity of the damage.
How Mainmark can help
If you've noticed signs of subsidence in your home, Mainmark's ground engineering specialists can help you understand the cause and find the right solution. As experts in ground improvement and foundation repair, Mainmark uses advanced, non-invasive techniques to strengthen the ground and re-level foundations, often without the need for major excavation work.
Mainmark can carry out a professional assessment of your property and work alongside your insurer throughout the claims process. They can also provide the technical documentation and expert reports that insurers often require to progress a subsidence claim.
Whilst subsidence may be a cause for concern for many homeowners, understanding what’s covered in your building insurance will help give you peace of mind. Subsidence is covered in most standard policies, but you should be aware of policy excesses, exclusions and how making a claim may affect future premiums.
The sooner you can contact your insurer, the sooner the claims process can begin. With the right ground engineering support, you can prevent any further long-term structural damage to your home.
If you’re concerned about cracks or signs of subsidence, Mainmark’s specialist engineers can assess your property and recommend the most appropriate solution. Book a free subsidence technical assessment today to understand the cause of movement before further structural damage occurs.
Mainmark’s specialised in-house solutions
Our dedicated team of experts is committed to understanding your unique needs and objectives, working closely with you to develop and execute.
Get in Touch
Our dedicated team of experts is committed to understanding your unique needs and objectives, working closely with you to develop and execute.
Does building insurance cover subsidence?
If you've spotted cracks in your walls or noticed doors and windows sticking, you may be concerned about subsidence and whether your building insurance will cover the cost of repairs. The good news is that most standard UK buildings insurance policies include subsidence cover. However, there are exclusions, excesses and claims processes you need to understand before making a claim. According to the Association of British Insurers ABI), subsidence-related insurance claims totalled £153 million in the first half of 2025 alone, highlighting the significant financial impact ground movement can have on homeowners. In this guide, we explain what subsidence insurance covers, what it doesn't, and what to do if you suspect your property is affected.
What does building insurance cover?
Most standard policies cover new and unexpected damage to your home and outbuildings caused by subsidence. If the damage to your property is severe, your insurance should also cover the costs of alternative accommodation for you and your household while repair works are carried out. It’s worth noting, however, that most policies will have an excess of £1,000 for a subsidence claim, which is your contribution towards the claim amount.
What does building insurance not cover?
Each policy is different, but some of the common exclusions in subsidence cover include:
Damage to external parts of the property: fences, garden walls, patios and driveways are not typically covered, unless the main house is damaged too.
Pre-existing damage: general wear and tear, poor maintenance or damage that occurred before your policy started may not be covered.
DIY jobs: Any damage that occurs while you’re making structural changes or repairs.
Faulty workmanship: Any damage caused by faulty design, construction or materials.
You should read your policy carefully, so you understand what’s covered and what isn’t.
Will making a subsidence claim increase the cost of my home insurance?
As with many insurance claims, your insurance premiums are likely to increase. This is because there is a higher risk of your property having subsidence again. Comparing deals from multiple insurers will help you find the best quote.
What are the signs of subsidence and what causes it?
Subsidence is the gradual, downward movement of the ground beneath a property. If left untreated, it can cause significant structural damage to your home, because it causes your foundations to sink. Some signs to watch out for include:
Wall cracks wider than a 10p coin
Diagonal or horizontal cracks in walls
Uneven or sloping floors
Sticking doors and windows
Bulging or bowing walls
In the UK, the most common cause of subsidence is the shrink-swell movement of clay soils during prolonged dry and wet weather cycles. Data from the ABI shows that approximately 60% of subsidence claims are linked to root-induced clay shrinkage.
Clay soils expand when wet and shrink when dry causing the soil beneath your property to shift or settle unevenly. Other factors include tree roots extracting excessive amounts of moisture from the soil and drainage problems on your property.
A surveyor or ground engineering specialist will be able to determine the exact cause. When you make a claim, your insurer will arrange for someone to visit your property.
What should you do if you suspect subsidence?
If you suspect you’re experiencing subsidence and want to make a claim, here’s a step-by-step guide:
Keep documents of the damage. Take photos of any unusual cracks or structural issues, e.g. gaps between skirting boards and the floor. Keep a record of when you first noticed them and whether they’ve grown wider or longer over time.
Contact your insurer. The earlier you contact your insurer the better, this is so the claims process can start as quickly as possible.
Get a professional assessment. Your insurer will most likely be in touch with a third-party specialist, i.e. a loss adjuster and a structural engineer to investigate your property to determine the severity of the damage and its cause.
Monitor the property. The structural engineer may need to monitor the property over a few weeks or several months. Following their assessment, the loss adjustor will be in touch with the insurer to report their findings.
The outcome. If your claim is approved, your insurance company will arrange for the repair work to be done. The amount of repair work needed will depend on the severity of the damage.
How Mainmark can help
If you've noticed signs of subsidence in your home, Mainmark's ground engineering specialists can help you understand the cause and find the right solution. As experts in ground improvement and foundation repair, Mainmark uses advanced, non-invasive techniques to strengthen the ground and re-level foundations, often without the need for major excavation work.
Mainmark can carry out a professional assessment of your property and work alongside your insurer throughout the claims process. They can also provide the technical documentation and expert reports that insurers often require to progress a subsidence claim.
Whilst subsidence may be a cause for concern for many homeowners, understanding what’s covered in your building insurance will help give you peace of mind. Subsidence is covered in most standard policies, but you should be aware of policy excesses, exclusions and how making a claim may affect future premiums.
The sooner you can contact your insurer, the sooner the claims process can begin. With the right ground engineering support, you can prevent any further long-term structural damage to your home.
If you’re concerned about cracks or signs of subsidence, Mainmark’s specialist engineers can assess your property and recommend the most appropriate solution. Book a free subsidence technical assessment today to understand the cause of movement before further structural damage occurs.
Mainmark’s specialised in-house solutions
Our dedicated team of experts is committed to understanding your unique needs and objectives, working closely with you to develop and execute.
Get in Touch
Our dedicated team of experts is committed to understanding your unique needs and objectives, working closely with you to develop and execute.
Does building insurance cover subsidence?
If you've spotted cracks in your walls or noticed doors and windows sticking, you may be concerned about subsidence and whether your building insurance will cover the cost of repairs. The good news is that most standard UK buildings insurance policies include subsidence cover. However, there are exclusions, excesses and claims processes you need to understand before making a claim. According to the Association of British Insurers ABI), subsidence-related insurance claims totalled £153 million in the first half of 2025 alone, highlighting the significant financial impact ground movement can have on homeowners. In this guide, we explain what subsidence insurance covers, what it doesn't, and what to do if you suspect your property is affected.
What does building insurance cover?
Most standard policies cover new and unexpected damage to your home and outbuildings caused by subsidence. If the damage to your property is severe, your insurance should also cover the costs of alternative accommodation for you and your household while repair works are carried out. It’s worth noting, however, that most policies will have an excess of £1,000 for a subsidence claim, which is your contribution towards the claim amount.
What does building insurance not cover?
Each policy is different, but some of the common exclusions in subsidence cover include:
Damage to external parts of the property: fences, garden walls, patios and driveways are not typically covered, unless the main house is damaged too.
Pre-existing damage: general wear and tear, poor maintenance or damage that occurred before your policy started may not be covered.
DIY jobs: Any damage that occurs while you’re making structural changes or repairs.
Faulty workmanship: Any damage caused by faulty design, construction or materials.
You should read your policy carefully, so you understand what’s covered and what isn’t.
Will making a subsidence claim increase the cost of my home insurance?
As with many insurance claims, your insurance premiums are likely to increase. This is because there is a higher risk of your property having subsidence again. Comparing deals from multiple insurers will help you find the best quote.
What are the signs of subsidence and what causes it?
Subsidence is the gradual, downward movement of the ground beneath a property. If left untreated, it can cause significant structural damage to your home, because it causes your foundations to sink. Some signs to watch out for include:
Wall cracks wider than a 10p coin
Diagonal or horizontal cracks in walls
Uneven or sloping floors
Sticking doors and windows
Bulging or bowing walls
In the UK, the most common cause of subsidence is the shrink-swell movement of clay soils during prolonged dry and wet weather cycles. Data from the ABI shows that approximately 60% of subsidence claims are linked to root-induced clay shrinkage.
Clay soils expand when wet and shrink when dry causing the soil beneath your property to shift or settle unevenly. Other factors include tree roots extracting excessive amounts of moisture from the soil and drainage problems on your property.
A surveyor or ground engineering specialist will be able to determine the exact cause. When you make a claim, your insurer will arrange for someone to visit your property.
What should you do if you suspect subsidence?
If you suspect you’re experiencing subsidence and want to make a claim, here’s a step-by-step guide:
Keep documents of the damage. Take photos of any unusual cracks or structural issues, e.g. gaps between skirting boards and the floor. Keep a record of when you first noticed them and whether they’ve grown wider or longer over time.
Contact your insurer. The earlier you contact your insurer the better, this is so the claims process can start as quickly as possible.
Get a professional assessment. Your insurer will most likely be in touch with a third-party specialist, i.e. a loss adjuster and a structural engineer to investigate your property to determine the severity of the damage and its cause.
Monitor the property. The structural engineer may need to monitor the property over a few weeks or several months. Following their assessment, the loss adjustor will be in touch with the insurer to report their findings.
The outcome. If your claim is approved, your insurance company will arrange for the repair work to be done. The amount of repair work needed will depend on the severity of the damage.
How Mainmark can help
If you've noticed signs of subsidence in your home, Mainmark's ground engineering specialists can help you understand the cause and find the right solution. As experts in ground improvement and foundation repair, Mainmark uses advanced, non-invasive techniques to strengthen the ground and re-level foundations, often without the need for major excavation work.
Mainmark can carry out a professional assessment of your property and work alongside your insurer throughout the claims process. They can also provide the technical documentation and expert reports that insurers often require to progress a subsidence claim.
Whilst subsidence may be a cause for concern for many homeowners, understanding what’s covered in your building insurance will help give you peace of mind. Subsidence is covered in most standard policies, but you should be aware of policy excesses, exclusions and how making a claim may affect future premiums.
The sooner you can contact your insurer, the sooner the claims process can begin. With the right ground engineering support, you can prevent any further long-term structural damage to your home.
If you’re concerned about cracks or signs of subsidence, Mainmark’s specialist engineers can assess your property and recommend the most appropriate solution. Book a free subsidence technical assessment today to understand the cause of movement before further structural damage occurs.
Mainmark’s specialised in-house solutions
Our dedicated team of experts is committed to understanding your unique needs and objectives, working closely with you to develop and execute.
Get in Touch
Our dedicated team of experts is committed to understanding your unique needs and objectives, working closely with you to develop and execute.