UK subsidence claims surge after hottest summer on record

Insurers across England and Wales are reporting a dramatic surge in claims for subsidence, following the hottest summer on record. Hastings Direct, one such insurer, declared a near 140% increase in subsidence claims compared to the same month last year, bringing August's total to an all-time high. This spike in claims is attributed to the prolonged heatwaves and the record-breaking spring weather that England and Wales experienced.

Subsidence claims typically peak during late summer and autumn, but this year they have surged earlier due to the ongoing climate crisis. Millions of homes are at risk, as the British Geological Survey has warned. Older properties are particularly vulnerable, as the ground under them shrinks and compromises the foundations during hot, dry summers.

Hastings Direct has seen a significant uptick in subsidence claims and anticipates the trend to continue into the autumn, even if temperatures return to normal and there is some rainfall. The insurer expects claims volumes to remain higher than usual through October unless sustained rainfall helps to restore soil moisture levels.

Signs of subsidence include diagonal cracks around doors and windows, sticking or non-closing doors and windows, uneven or sloping floors, wallpaper creasing or rippling, and damp. The average subsidence claim in the UK reached a record £20,000 between April and June, up more than £2,000 from the previous year. Insurers paid out £72 million for domestic subsidence claims in this period, a 6% increase from the year before and a staggering 89% rise compared to 2022.

Experts predict that the ongoing climate crisis will lead to more subsidence claims in the coming months, as hotter, drier summers become increasingly frequent. Insurers are reviewing their reserves, pricing models, and exposure management to address the growing risk of subsidence and flooding damage.