London and the South East suffer more from subsidence than the rest of the country, according to new figures from Direct Line.
The region’s soil has a high concentration of clay, which makes subsidence more likely, but there are other factors that can also affect your property. Soil volume can change by being too dry. A hot, dry summer can result in a reduction of soil volume. When this changes, the building can be damaged by tapering cracks. Whilst there is not a lot that can be done about this, householders need to be vigilant and pay close attention to the outward appearance of their home.
Trees and other vegetation can have a significant impact on soil drying out, as they soak up the water through their roots. Therefore, if you are planting new trees, make sure they are appropriate for your garden. Bigger trees demand more moisture, which could increase the shrinking of soil. The type of tree you plant is also important; willow trees should be furthest away, while yew trees and magnolias are better if you have a small garden.
Rob Warner, head of risk modelling at Direct Line home insurance, explained: “Do not panic if you suspect you have subsidence. You should act quickly by calling your insurer immediately. If you are concerned about the trees on your property do not make any rash decisions to cut them down. Look at what kind of tree it is, how far away from the house it is and whether they are protected by local conservation. Good property maintenance such as looking after your drains can also help, as this could erode the soil surrounding the house.”
Top ten postal districts for subsidence taken from Direct Line claims data
- N4
- NW5
- W10
- N19
- NW6
- SE24
- SE23
- SE22
- SE15
- NW11
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