Subsidence is usually straightforward to rectify and the cost of repair is usually covered by your buildings insurance.

If a property you’re thinking of buying has subsidence however  you will need to know more so that you can take an informed decision whether to go ahead with the purchase. Usually establishing the cause and the remedy can take some time and more often than not clients pull out of a purchase in these circumstances.

Subsidence occurs when the ground beneath the building can no longer bear the load. It is not settlement which occurs when a building is first built or where the loads in an existing building are altered. Subsidence can have several causes including trees, droughts, erosion, mining and landslip. You should be aware that sometimes subsidence needs to be monitored or insurers will require monitoring before they will consider accepting a claim.

We have many years experience in this field and can help you to identify the cause and to find the appropriate action to halt the subsidence and repair the damage. As members of the profession that spend a large proportion of our time examining buildings for evidence of structural movement as opposed to designing structural works we believe we are best placed to undertake this work. 

You will need to check that your buildings insurance covers subsidence. Most insurers will be helpful in dealing with any claim. They will also recommend that you get specialist advice.

You will need to check whether your insurance policy covers the cost of investigation and repair. If the insurance company or loss adjuster thinks the estimated charges are reasonable, you will get your costs back, less the excess. We will deal with your insurance company and help with any claim you need to make. We can also help design and arrange for any work needed.