Stage 6 · Claim
A plain-English guide to making, and winning, a UK subsidence claim. Plus how we support homeowners through the process end-to-end.
Subsidence is one of the most expensive things buildings insurance covers, which is why insurers handle it carefully and excesses are high, typically £1,000 to £2,500. It's also one of the most stressful things a homeowner can claim for: the process can take months and involves surveyors, engineers and contractors.
We're on your side. We can carry out independent surveys, produce insurer-grade reports, project-manage the repair, and challenge rejections.
What is and isn't covered, plus the common exclusions.
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Step-by-step through the UK claims process.
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Why claims fail and how to challenge them with independent evidence.
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What the excess covers and how long you have to declare past subsidence.
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Almost every UK buildings policy includes subsidence cover as standard, but the small print matters. Excesses typically sit at one thousand pounds, but for subsidence specifically can run to two and a half thousand or more. The insurer will appoint their own loss adjuster, who will commission a survey and decide both whether the damage is a covered peril and what the proportionate response should be.
Homeowners often feel out of their depth at this stage, and that is reasonable. The loss adjuster works for the insurer, not for you, and the report they produce frames the rest of the claim. Engaging your own surveyor in parallel is not adversarial, it is simply prudent. A second opinion costs a few hundred pounds and frequently changes the trajectory of a claim worth tens of thousands.
If a claim is rejected on the grounds that the damage is long standing or pre-existing, you still have options. The Financial Ombudsman Service handles disputes free of charge, and a clear evidence pack of dated photographs, independent reports, and historical maintenance records is your strongest asset. Do not accept a rejection at face value if the evidence does not support it.
Free, no-obligation opinion from qualified UK specialists. Most cracks are not subsidence, and you will get a straight answer from a vetted specialist, usually the same day.
