UK insurers paid out £307 million in domestic subsidence claims in 2025. This guide explains what buildings insurance covers for subsidence, how your postcode affects premiums, what happens after a claim, and how to get cover if your house has been underpinned.
Yes. Most standard buildings insurance policies include subsidence as a named peril, covering structural repairs, underpinning, and redecorating. Cosmetic cracking from settlement is generally excluded.
Properties in high clay shrink-swell areas - particularly south-east England and the Thames Valley - typically face premiums 20â30% above average. The standard subsidence excess is around £1,000.
Yes, but many standard insurers treat underpinning as a risk flag. Specialist non-standard home insurers are more experienced with underpinned properties and are often the better route.
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