What is subsidence?

Subsidence is one of the most serious issues for homeowners as its consequences can put at risk the safety of your home and lead to expensive damage. It is a severe problem caused by the ground under a property sinking. This means the foundations of the property can become unbalanced, moving the walls and floors of the house from their original groundwork, and leading to cracks and destabilisation of the property. 

Settlement of a building is different from subsidence. Settlement is a natural part of the building process and is something you may experience if you move into a new or relatively new building. As the ground becomes compacted with the extra weight, small shifts occur as everything settles in. Minor cracks can appear as a result of settlement.

Signs of subsidence

There are many visible signs of subsidence to look out for inside and outside the house, which may indicate the severity of the problem. An example would be:

• Large cracks in a wall, usually around a door or window frame, which are wider at the top than they are at the bottom. They are usually more than 3mm thick (thicker than a 10p coin)
• Wallpaper creasing at the joins where the wall meets the ceiling 
• Doors and windows sticking as frames warp
• Cracks where an extension joins the house

Causes of subsidence

There are many potential causes of subsidence. Subsidence caused by drains can happen when leaking drains soften and moisten the ground surrounding the property, causing it to destabilise and sink because the ground under may not be able to hold its weight. Subsidence can become a wider problem following a long period of hot, dry weather. As temperatures rise, the risk of subsidence does too, heat and lack of rainfall causes clay soil to dry up and shrink, causing instability to building foundations.  Roots from trees and other shrubs can often cause disturbance to the foundations of the ground beneath the home, causing it to become unstable. The property being built on old mining shafts or on poor soil may also cause issues. 

What should I do if I spot signs of subsidence ?

There are types of houses and buildings that are more at risk of subsidence than others. Should you spot signs of subsidence, it is important to seek expert advice and contact your insurer. The work may require underpinning (stabilising the foundations), removing any vegetation or trees, or in some instances demolishing and rebuilding (this is common with garages or extensions).

It is imperative that the cause of the subsidence is fully investigated before any work is undertaken to ensure the problem will not reoccur in the future and void any policy of insurance.

To speak to one of our subsidence solicitors, please contact us on 0800 567 7595.

Article contributed by Summerfield Browne Solicitors

DISCLAIMER: This article should not be regarded as constituting legal advice in relation to particular circumstances, and is merely a general comment on the relevant topic. If specific advice is required in connection with any of the matters covered in this article, please speak to Summerfield Browne Solicitors directly.