Is It Possible to Buy A House with Subsidence?

When your house sinks, you are experiencing subsidence. Your house’s foundations may become misaligned as the ground sinks. It can be particularly problematic when the ground under your property sinks at different rates.

Heave

Heave, in which parts of the ground under your home shift upwards and cause your foundations to rise, is not the same as subsidence. Additionally, it differs from landslips and landslides, where the ground your house was built on moves down a slope or is washed away.

Settlement

Subsidence and settlement are also distinct. Subsidence is characterized by the downward movement of a building’s foundations caused by instabilities in the soil beneath them. This is what the Financial Ombudsman Service describes as subsidence. Settlement refers to an upward movement of the soil caused by the weight of a building within ten years of construction. As most home insurance policies do not cover the settlement, it is essential to know the difference.

Which houses are most susceptible to subsidence?

A variety of factors, including the type of soil in which they sit and the climate in which they reside, can increase the chance of a home sinking.

Subsidence is mainly caused by:

• Trees. You may experience subsidence if you have large shrubs and trees planted too close to your home as the plant drains moisture from the soil, causing it to dry out and sink. Tree roots are responsible for 70% of all subsidence cases.
• Clay. Soil changes with the weather a great deal. A hot and dry climate can cause the ground to shrink, crack, and shift, making it unstable and increasing the risk of it sinking.
• Drought. The soil could dry out if you live somewhere prone to droughts, thus increasing the risk of subsidence.
• Leaks. Sinkage can occur when a leaky drain or water main softens the soil or washes it away.
• Age and construction. A period property may have shallower foundations than a home built more recently, so subsidence is higher. It should be noted that older properties tend to be more flexible and less likely to be damaged by shifting ground.
• Mining. If you built near an old quarry or pit, your house could be unstable. Mines nearby may affect your house. Coal Authority subsidence claims reports can be purchased to determine whether your property is affected.

Is it possible to buy a house that has subsidence?

The answer is yes. Legal action is all that needs to be taken. Here are some suggestions!

An inspection of your structure is necessary.

Keep an eye out for signs of subsidence when you are viewing properties. If you want to know if the house has suffered subsidence, speak directly to the seller and estate agent. Consider getting a complete building survey done if you are interested in buying a property that you suspect may have subsidence. This will tell you whether there is any risk of subsidence. You’ll need to hire a surveyor to determine whether subsidence is present; your mortgage lender’s valuation is not a survey of the property’s condition or structure.

Checks for conveyancers

If there have been previous repairs for subsidence, your conveyancing solicitor should ask the vendor for legal documents verifying the repairs were made by the Building Research Establishment’s standard. Completion certificates for properties that have been underpinned and Certificates of Structural Adequacy for claims made under insurance should also be presented. You will need to be informed of the guarantees with the repairs.

Checks with insurance companies

Conveyancers will have access to a property’s current insurance company and coverage. If your options are limited or the policies are more expensive, you should shop around to learn what your options are – an insurance broker may be helpful in this regard.

Conclusion

You can buy a house without subsidence if you follow these steps! We hope this article will assist you in an informed decision about how to buy a house with subsidence and the causes of subsidence.

FAQs

Subsidence: how to fix it?

However, it is the easiest solution to resolve subsidence caused by tree roots if you consult a surveyor and a tree surgeon before doing so. You could worsen the situation if you get it wrong and create more instability.

What can be done to prevent subsidence?

You can take a couple of steps to reduce the risk of your property sinking if you live in a house that is at risk of subsidence. First, keep the trees away from your house. You shouldn’t plant trees closer than 10 meters to your home, and more giant trees should not be planted within 40 meters. Secondly, try to collect water. You can avoid waterlogging your soil by using water butts. You should also keep your gutters, pipes, and plumbing in good condition to avoid leaks.