Ecclesiastical sounds alarm on growing subsidence risk

Ecclesiastical is urging property owners to take precautionary steps as the risk of subsidence increases following an extended dry spell.

Subsidence is where the ground beneath a building sinks, pulling the property’s foundations down with it and causing issues such as cracking on the inside and outside of a property.

It usually occurs when the ground loses moisture and shrinks due to prolonged dry spells.

Ecclesiastical said England had its driest start to the year since 1976 and that parts of the country, including Cumbria, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cheshire and the Midlands, are already experiencing drought conditions.

The last drought occurred in the summer of 2022, when water companies introduced hosepipe bans, affecting 19 million people following a six-month dry period.

As a result of those drought conditions, Ecclesiastical saw a 54% increase in claims for subsidence between 2021 and 2022 – the highest since 2018.

Steps that can be taken

Ecclesiastical said trees and shrubs can make the issue more severe as they remove moisture from the soil, as can leaks, sinkholes and industrial processes such as mining, causing the ground beneath properties to fall away.

While it isn’t possible to prevent all cases of subsidence, Ecclesiastical said some steps can be taken by property owners to protect themselves.

This includes reviewing the proximity of surrounding trees, avoiding overplanting trees and hedges, tailoring the trees planted to the size of their garden and ensuring these are planted at a safe distance away from the property.

The insurer also said that people should ensure that gutters, pipes and plumbing are well-maintained to avoid leaks.

Jeremy Trott, claims director at Ecclesiastical, said: “Last Spring we saw some of the wettest conditions on record, with an increased risk of flooding and this year we’ve gone in the complete opposite direction to one of the driest.

“It’s impossible to ignore the impact of a changing climate, which will likely bring more volatile weather conditions, including droughts, in the coming years.

“Going by our data from years, as a result, we expect the volume of subsidence claims to rise over time as weather conditions get warmer. If you suspect you have a subsidence issue, it’s important you contact your insurer for advice and to investigate the cracks to determine the cause and suitable action.”