This article addresses issues encountered with subsidence and buildings insurance, and suggests strategies for effective management. A significant number of structural engineers’ reports come about from initial concerns relating to buildings insurance, particularly subsidence coverage.

Key problems include difficulties faced by buyers in obtaining subsidence insurance and securing mortgages due to historic underpinning or prior insurance claims.

Vendors often struggle to sell properties where subsidence insurance is absent or due to past underpinning and minor subsidence claims, which may only involve superficial repairs like redecoration. 

Property owners encounter increasing or withdrawn insurance premiums without forewarning.