Will Underpinning Affect My House Insurance?

Underpinning is a method used to rectify subsidence on both domestic and commercial properties. Often, subsidence cannot be avoided as there are multiple factors at play. Unfortunately, if underpinning is needed, you’ll need to claim on your house insurance in order to cover the costs of underpinning work. But many homeowners will be reluctant to do so in case it negatively affects their house insurance. But it might not be as bad as you first thought. Here’s what you need to know when it comes to underpinning and house insurance claims.

What is underpinning?

Underpinning is a type of ground stabilisation work that is carried out on a house that is subsiding. There are various methods of underpinning, from conventional excavation to innovative resin injection methods. But regardless of the method used, underpinning reinforces the ground underneath. This ensures the structure doesn’t sink any further, whilst pushing the ground back up to re-stabilise the property. 

After underpinning solutions have been sought, you’ll notice that considerable cracks will start to disappear and you can open and close your doors and windows again with ease. If subsidence is a problem for you and your home, then look to Geobear for underpinning services that will last for many decades to come.

Can you tell if a house has been underpinned?

You can’t always tell if a house has been underpinned just by looking at it. This is because underpinning would have been carried out underneath the ground, where it’s not visible to passersby. It’s done in such a way that any evidence of underpinning is concealed. Therefore, it’s unlikely to show up on a house survey, unless a specialist one is carried out. 

If you’re unsure about whether your house has been underpinned in the past, you should ask a structural engineer to come and inspect your property. It will, however, be obvious if your house is subsiding. The building will present some obvious signs before on the exterior and on the interior of your home. The signs of subsidence can include:

• Cracking in walls, floors and ceilings
• Water pooling in outdoor areas, like patios, driveways and paths
• Doors and windows that are difficult to open
• Doors or windows that are difficult to shut 
• An extension coming away from the main body of the house

What happens to my house insurance if my house has been  underpinned?

Your insurance provider should still off you on-going subsidence cover, even after the property has had underpinning carried out. However, you should look carefully at the premiums you’re paying as they could sky-rocket at any point. Shop around for the best cover at a reasonable price to avoid being stung financially. 

You may also find that, in some cases, the insurer stops providing you cover altogether. So you’ll be forced to take out a policy with someone new. Like with anything, however, if you make a claim, you’ll likely pay more for the same cover later down the line. 

Although it’s an additional outlay, it gives you peace of mind that, if it needs underpinning again, you’ll be covered by your house insurance. If you choose Geobear for underpinning solutions, it is unlikely that you’ll need to call on your house insurers again. 

We use modern, innovative technology when it comes to subsidence solutions. We inject a resin into the ground that expands as it goes, filling any and all voids it finds. This reinforces the ground underneath, restoring it back to its full strength and stability. The non-disruptive resin injection method lasts for many decades. So you can rest assured that underpinning solutions will not be needed again for a generation to come.

Can I claim underpinning costs on my house insurance?

Yes. Subsidence and any work needed to rectify subsidence should be covered under your house insurance. However, this depends on your policy, so make sure you check this carefully before committing to buying a house that needs underpinning to be carried out. You can have home surveys done prior to exchanging contracts, and this can include having a subsidence survey conducted. 

This is something we are able to offer here at Geobear. If we find that the house is subsiding and will need work to be done, you’ll be able to get a house insurance quote that includes the rectification of subsidence. Although, there are some instances where your house insurance may not cover subsidence, such as:

• Subsidence that has been caused by major structural damage or issues caused by changes you have made to your house, like building a new extension 
• Subsidence that occurs on a new-build property that is still under its developer warranty, because the builder is responsible for underpinning

Geobear is able to provide sterling underpinning solutions that will stand the test of time. With a team of highly-experienced technicians at the helm of our operations, no project is too big or small for our subsidence specialists. We are also pleased to offer sinkhole repairs and ground improvement services. If you would like further information, get in touch with a member of our professional team today – we’re always pleased to hear from you.