Hotter summers spark property subsidence worries

Each request for subsidence cover must be treated individually.

That’s one of four basic points included in a new guide to subsidence cover, produced by The Society of Underwriting Professionals. The other points are: underwriters should recognise other potential causes of damage, underwriters should thoroughly assess whether underpinning could be required so that coverage can be priced appropriately and, lastly, how previous claimants could receive cover should be identified.

The six-page guide also highlights other material on subsidence produced by the insurance profession that underwriters and claims professionals should be aware of.

Philip Williams, non-executive director of the Society of Underwriting Professionals, said: “With temperatures rising in the UK, more hot summers are expected. This will have an impact on more properties being hit by subsidence as well as impact existing claimants.

“There will be a greater need to investigate and action cases of subsidence, as well as preventing subsidence from reoccurring. We hope this good practice guide will ensure underwriters and claims professionals feel better equipped to do that.”

The guide can be found here: https://www.socup.org.uk/media/10122540/subsidence-good-practice-guide-for-underwriters.pdf

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