BUILDINGS INSURANCE POLICIES COVER A NUMBER OF INSURED EVENTS, WHICH TOGETHER WITH SUBSIDENCE SHOULD BE DEFINED WITHIN THE TERMS OF THE INSURANCE POLICY.
Those associated with subsidence normally include heave, landslip and water damage (typically leakage from below ground drainage or water supply services).
These events may be all encompassed as events or causes of ground and foundation movement with associated damage affecting the building or structure. Subsidence has been generally associated with problems caused by clay soil movement and the affect of trees, because of the prevalence of outcropping clay.
However, it should be appreciated this is by no means the only or principal cause, nor the only possible cause in these areas.
Problems of major foundation movement and damage can be due to other causes.
For example these may include subsidence in mining areas, collapse and movement of solution features in chalk, adverse groundwater affects upon loose or granular/sandy soils, settlement or failure of made ground, landslip or retaining wall failure.
For further guidance in respect of household and/or low - rise buildings, you may refer to The Institution of Structural Engineers guide - Subsidence of low-rise buildings. We regularly advise upon all aspects of subsidence (including initial appraisal, investigation, recommendations, design and control of remedial measures), not only where insurance claims have been made.