Introduction -
insurance for buildings that have been underpinned or have suffered
from subsidence in the past is probably the most difficult of all
building insurance to place. Anyone completing a building insurance
proposal form knows that there is now a whole list of questions asking
about subsidence in your area, particular problems in your own
property and even if there are any trees or shrubs within influencing
distance of your home. We can provide quotations for properties that
have been underpinned but we would ask you to read the following notes
first of all. It may save you a great deal of time.
In the first instance, it is recommended that any insurance should
stay with the insurer who actually paid or have authorized the
remedial work to be carried out. If you wish to purchase an
underpinned Building have a word with the vendor, they will usually be
quite helpful and should be able to put you in touch with their
insurer. The insurer should be quite sympathetic and in many cases,
they will be happy to continue cover for you. If they are not then,
contact our office and we will see if we can help, please remember
though that each case will decided on its merits and in many cases, we
will be unable to help.
You may find that some companies are prepared to offer you an
insurance policy but excluding insurance for subsidence, whilst this
might seem like an option for you, it isn't, undoubtedly your mortgage
lender will want the peril covered to satisfy their terms and
conditions and secondly, if the problem reoccurs, you may get a nasty
surprise when you find out the cost of the remedial work.
Subsidence Information - subsidence is classed as the downward
movement of the ground supporting the building. Sometimes only part of
the building will be affected, sometimes all of it. Problems can
become acute when different parts off the building move by different
amounts and directions. The three main types of movement that effect
property are:-
Subsidence - the
downward movement of property
Landslip - the
movement of ground down a slope
Heave - the upward
movement of ground supporting a property
The causes of subsidence are various and many factors contributed to
movement or an increased susceptibility to movement. The following are
all factors:-
Soil Type - a clay
soil is more likely to produce subsidence as they can shrink during
periods of dry weather then expand again when moisture returns.
Trees & Shrubs - the
proximity of Trees or Shrubs to your property can be a serious factor
depending on their ability to remove moisture from the ground
Drain Problems - cracked or
damaged drains may result in water seepage in to the ground
surrounding the property.
Mine Workings - properties
that are constructed over mine workings or made up ground may
experience subsidence problems
Reducing the Risk of Subsidence - a good program of maintenance should
help protect your property against possible subsidence damage.
Guttering and pipes should be checked on a regular basis and any
damage rectified to prevent unnecessary water seepage in to the soil.
Trees and shrubs should be kept pruned although it may be best if you
seek guidance from a professional before undertaking any drastic
cutting back or pruning. Different trees and shrubs take different
amounts of water from the soil and this should also be a consideration
before planting anything new at your property.
What to look out for - many properties, have hairline cracks and a
certain about of cracking is only to be expected particularly in newly
built properties or extensions. However, you should look out for
small, usually diagonal, cracks which suddenly appear in plasterwork
inside and outside bricks at weak points, such as around the doors and
windows, especially after long periods of dry weather. Any crack that
is thicker than the edge of a ten pence coin may warrant further
investigation. Any doors or windows that stick may also indicate a
problem.
What to do about it - if you suspect that your Building is suffering
from subsidence damage, you should notify your insurance company as
soon as possible. They will probably arrange for a representative to
inspect your property and fit “ Tell-Tale” signs to monitor if the
problem is ongoing or not.
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