Home insurance: subsidence
When it comes to home and house insurance, the term “subsidence” refers to the sinking or lowering of the ground on which your home is built. For people living in an area that is prone to subsidence, it is imperative that their building insurance covers this occurrence – which means, the insurance premiums and excesses will more-than-likely be higher.
However, all is not lost. If you are purchasing a home that has already been affected by subsidence, if the repair work(s) has been done properly, then finding an insurer shouldn’t be a problem. Plus, there are a few things you can do to minimise your risk of subsidence in the future:
• Have a complete structural survey performed to identify any potential problems. (This should always be done when buying a home.)
• Consult a specialist before removing any established trees; removing trees can cause house foundations to destabilise.
• Be careful when planting new trees. Find out their expected maximum mature height and then use that distance as a measure for how far you should plant them away from your home structure.
• Keep trees pruned to a sensible height to reduce the risk of dried out soil (a cause of subsidence).
• Keep gutters clear of leaves, dirt, and rubbish. Keep drains running clear, freeing up blocked drains quickly.
If or when you do see signs of structural damage, contact your home building insurance company immediately; the quicker the problem can be identified and remedied, the less the expense.
Leave a Reply