insurance and subsidence

[Shaila Shah]

Some advice please. In 2010, we had some subsidence in our kitchen (an extension) due to neighbours' gigantic lei landii (spelling?) trees (three!) being about 30 feet away. Anyway, the trees got cut down and our cracks repaired. Since then, our premium shot up astronomically. Now, the insurance company says our underwriters are no longer operating and I am having trouble finding a company to insure us. Anyone in the same predcament? Any recommendations as to whom to approach? Thanks.

[Lynne]

Hi. We had underpinning years ago and our insurance crept up and up, till last year, it got ridiculous. I thought that no-one else would insure us, that being the case years ago. But then I saw an article in the paper saying that things had changed. So I contacted Aviva. We had to get a survey done and submit it to them. This cost us about ?400 but we more than saved this on one years' new insurance costs.

Lynne

[Too Good To Be True]

Try these guys:

http://www.woodstockinsurance.co.uk/subsidence-home-insurance/

Towergate are also worth a try. Hiscox if you have a high value property.

Give your existing insurer some grief. All insurers are under an obligation to "treat customers fairly". I don't think they can just pull your cover or double your premium just like that.

Let the forum know how you get on. Plenty of houses with minor subsidence in East Dulwich.

[Marmora Man]

Lynne Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Hi. We had underpinning years ago and our

> insurance crept up and up, till last year, it got

> ridiculous. I thought that no-one else would

> insure us, that being the case years ago. But then

> I saw an article in the paper saying that things

> had changed. So I contacted Aviva. We had to get a

> survey done and submit it to them. This cost us

> about ?400 but we more than saved this on one

> years' new insurance costs.

> Lynne

I did just the same a few years back. The cost of the survey was recovered from vastly lower premiums within the year.

[Too Good To Be True]

If it's minor vegetation damage, they usually just repair the bricks.

There is also a school that believes underpinning is a bad idea, especially in terraces. It encourages weaknesses between the underpinned and non-underpinned structures, which move at different rates. Remember that underpinning is a massive money-spinner for builders.

Shaila - which insurer are you with at the moment?