An in-depth look at subsidence
06/22/2023
The weather we see in this country never fails to surprise. February 2023 was the driest for 30 years in England with rainfall at less than half the UK average. February 2023 was also the joint fifth mildest on record. Compare that with March 2023 where England and Wales had their wettest March for over 40 years. This resulted in the majority of the UK having less sunshine hours than average.
Such unpredictable and extreme weather prompts the recurring question whether this will be a year when Zurich and other insurers see an overall increase in the number of subsidence claims reported to them. We will likely know the answer to this question in early August.
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) data showing the number of domestic subsidence claims notified across the industry in 2022 totalled 23,000. Coincidentally, this is similar in number as recorded in 2018. 2021 saw 15,000 claims recorded due to the summer in the South East of England being much wetter and less sunny than average, so compared with 2021, 2022 saw a considerable uplift across the industry.
Interestingly, in a typical year, 60% of valid subsidence claims will be due to root induced clay shrinkage. 18% will be due to leaking drains / mains water supply pipe. 18% will be due to poor ground, infill and consolidation issues whilst the remaining 4% will be due to other causes such as heave, landslip, sinkholes or mining issues.
Our guide takes a look at what subsidence is, what the data is telling us, the claims process after an incident, and a look ahead through the rest of 2023.
