It's enough to undermine you Clay soil, trees and tricky insurers. Belinda Beresford on the perils of subsidence

• Published in: The Guardian (London)
• Main Author: Beresford, Belinda
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: London (UK) Guardian News & Media Limited 30.05.1998
• ISSN: 0261-3077

Is it fair that insurers penalise us if our house has had subsidence in the past? And should a home in a subsidence-prone area automatically be charged higher insurance premiums? Chris Jordan of the Subsidence Claims Advisory Bureau thinks not: "It's grossly unfair. It's not climate and clay that causes subsidence it is clay, climate and another factor, usually a tree. When that is professionally lopped the problem often goes." He adds that there are parts of North London where policyholders pay double the average in premiums - pounds 4 for every pounds 1,000 of building cover -even if their home is in first-class condition. Insurers are fearful of serial subsidence claims and may raise premiums and excesses, even when houses have been professionally treated and the work carries a guarantee. Such subsidence stigma can be out of all proportion to the actual or potential damage to a house.