What Rising Temperatures Mean for Home Insurance Claims
As temperatures continue to rise, concerns around subsidence are growing among property owners and insurers alike. At Lansdown Insurance Brokers, our Block of Flats Insurance and Landlord Insurance experts are seeing heightened awareness of the risks that prolonged dry weather can pose to residential properties.
Our own claims data reflects this growing concern, with reported subsidence claims increasing by 71% in 2025 compared to 2024.
Following the UK’s third heatwave of 2026, insurers are once again warning that extended periods of hot, dry weather are increasing the risk of subsidence across many parts of the UK. Consecutive years of extreme weather can leave clay soils already stressed, making further ground movement more likely during dry conditions. With temperatures reaching 34.8°C at Kew Gardens during the latest heatwave, industry experts expect the effects of these conditions to become increasingly apparent in the months ahead.
Prolonged spells of dry weather can cause the ground beneath properties to shrink, particularly in areas with clay-rich soil. As the soil loses moisture, foundations can shift, leading to cracks in walls, sticking doors and windows, sloping floors and, in more serious cases, significant structural damage.
Looking at a longer-term picture, Lansdown received several suspected subsidence events between 2022 and 2026. Of these, two-thirds (64%) of reported concerns resulted in validated claims.
The data also shows that 2025 recorded the highest number of reported subsidence concerns during the period analysed, representing a 79% increase compared with 2024.
These findings highlight the importance of understanding the risk of subsidence, recognising the early warning signs and ensuring your insurance provides appropriate protection should damage occur.
Mandy Grindle, Claims Manager at Lansdown Insurance Brokers, said:
“Many property owners don’t think about subsidence until they’re faced with a potential issue, but understanding how your insurance policy responds is important. Whether you’re a homeowner, landlord or managing a block of flats, it’s worth checking what cover is included, what excess applies and whether any previous subsidence issues need to be disclosed to insurers.”
Is subsidence common?
Compared to many other property insurance claims, subsidence is still relatively uncommon. However, when concerns are reported, our data suggests there is a significant likelihood that further investigation will uncover genuine structural movement.
The risk is often influenced by factors including:
- Soil type, particularly shrinkable clay soils
- Extended periods of hot, dry weather
- Large trees growing close to buildings
- Leaking drains and underground pipework
- Local ground conditions
Although not every reported concern turns out to be subsidence, Lansdown’s claims experience suggests that property owners should not ignore the warning signs. Cracks that suddenly appear or worsen, doors and windows becoming difficult to open, or sloping floors may all warrant further investigation.
Can a heatwave cause subsidence?
Yes. Extended periods of hot, dry weather can cause clay soils to shrink as moisture is lost. This movement can affect a property’s foundations, increasing the risk of subsidence, particularly where large trees or shrubs are present nearby. Recent heatwaves have led insurers to warn of rising subsidence claims across the UK.
How can I reduce the risk of subsidence?
While subsidence can’t always be prevented, you can help reduce the risk by:
- Maintaining trees and large shrubs near the property
- Repairing leaking drains and pipework
- Monitoring cracks and signs of movement
- Seeking professional advice if you notice changes
Does Building Insurance cover subsidence?
Most building insurance policies include cover for subsidence, heave and landslip as standard. However, the level of cover can vary between insurers, and policy terms, conditions and exclusions should always be checked carefully.
A subsidence claim may help cover:
- Repairs to insured structures damaged by subsidence
- Professional investigations and surveys
- Monitoring and assessment work
- Associated repair costs that are covered under the policy
Common causes of subsidence include:
- Clay soil shrinkage during dry weather
- Tree roots remove moisture from the ground
- Escaping water from drains
- Poor ground conditions beneath a property
If you’re arranging cover for a property with a history of subsidence, insurers may require additional information before offering terms.
If you suspect subsidence, notifying your insurer as soon as possible.
What Is a subsidence Excess?
An excess is the amount a policyholder must contribute towards a claim before the insurer pays the remaining costs.
Many property owners are surprised to learn that subsidence excesses are often higher than standard buildings insurance excesses.
While a standard buildings insurance excess may be relatively low, subsidence excesses can often be £2,000 or more, depending on the insurer and policy. Understanding your policy excess before making a claim can help avoid unexpected costs later in the process.
What Is a subsidence Report?
A subsidence report is a professional assessment used to determine whether structural movement has occurred and what may be causing it.
Depending on the situation, a report may include:
- Structural engineer assessments
- Crack monitoring
- Drainage surveys
- Soil investigations
- Recommendations for repair or stabilisation work
These reports provide crucial information for owners, surveyors and insurers when assessing the severity of a claim.
Because subsidence can have several potential causes, obtaining a professional opinion is often an important step in understanding the extent of the issue.
How long do you have to declare Subsidence for Insurance?
If your property has previously suffered from subsidence, you will usually be expected to disclose this information when applying for or renewing insurance.
There is no universal time limit after which subsidence can simply be ignored. Many insurers ask whether a property has ever experienced subsidence, heave or landslip, regardless of when the incident occurred.
Being open about a property’s history allows insurers to accurately assess the risk and provide appropriate cover. Failure to disclose known subsidence issues could affect the validity of future claims.
What should you do If you suspect subsidence?
If you notice signs of subsidence, heave or landslip, you should contact your insurer as soon as possible to report the issue. Avoid arranging your own investigations or appointing a surveyor without first speaking to your insurer, as any costs incurred may not be recoverable if the damage is not caused by an insured risk.
Once a claim has been reported, insurers will typically appoint a specialist Subsidence Loss Adjuster to investigate the cause of the damage and determine whether cover applies under the policy.
If you’re unsure what subsidence is or how it differs from heave and landslip, read our article “Understanding Subsidence, Heave, and landslip.”
About Lansdown Insurance Brokers
Lansdown Insurance Brokers are specialists in Block of Flats Insurance and Landlord Insurance. Our team can help explain your options, discuss your insurance requirements and ensure you understand the cover available under your policy.
For more information, call the team on 01242 524498 or email enquiries@lansdowninsurance.com.
Lansdown is part of the Benefact Group, a charity-owned, international family of financial services companies that gives all available profits to charity and good causes.