Most home insurance policies cover damage caused by subsidence, but only if your home has not suffered from it before.
Subsidence is when the ground beneath your home moves, causing it to sink.
Some insurance companies will not cover your home if it has a history of subsidence, or if you live in an area that is at risk.
However, you can use this comparison to find policies that can protect your property against the costs of repairs to your building or damage to your contents caused by subsidence.
Check the excess
When you compare policies check what excess you have to pay if you claim for subsidence, because it is often higher than the standard excess.
For example, some policies set an excess of £1,000 which you have to pay in the event of subsidence, compared to £200 for any other claim.
Insurers set a higher excess to offset the cost because subsidence claims can be very expensive. You can find out more about home insurance excess here.
Look at what is not covered
Read each policy carefully when looking for cover to see what is excluded from your policy.
For example, most policies will not cover any subsidence damage that is caused by:
Escaped water or oil from fixed water or heating systems
Normal bedding down of new buildings
River or coastal soil erosion
Any structural changes you make to your home
Most policies cover subsidence damage to your garden, but only if your buildings have been damaged at the same time.
Finding cover if you have a history of subsidence
If your home has suffered subsidence damage in the past it will be harder to find a policy that can cover your property.
If your home has previously been repaired following a subsidence claim, you could find a new policy by using our underpinned house insurance comparison.
You can find out more about getting a home insurance policy if your home has a history of subsidence damage here.
Subsidence house insurance FAQs
Is my home at risk from subsidence?
It may if it is built near a coal mine, on clay soil or close to large trees. Find out more about your area on the Environment Agency website.
Will I have to pay a higher excess for subsidence claims?
Most home insurance policies set a higher excess for subsidence claims, for example £1,000 compared to £200 for other claims.
Do I have to declare if my home has suffered subsidence damage?
Yes, you must inform the insurer, even if it happened a long time ago because your home could be at risk from damage in the future.
Is subsidence caused by fracking covered?
Yes, any damage resulting from ground movement caused by fracking should be covered by your home insurance policy.
About our home insurance comparison
Who do we include in this comparison?
We include subsidence home insurance available from our panel of insurers and brokers. They are all regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Here is more information about how our website works.
How do we make money from our comparison?
We have commercial agreements with some of the companies in this comparison and get paid commission if we help you take out one of their products or services. Find out more here.
You do not pay any extra and the deal you get is not affected.