Subsidence threat to home insurance

Home insurance customers have been warned about the risk of subsisdence to their properties as a result of the dry summer.

MS Money has noted that, with the driest six months for 80 years, clay soil could shrink, increasing the threat of subsisdence.

Andrew Ferguson, head of general insurance at MS, gave advice to help homeowners keep an eye out for subsidence.

What should be looked out for are small, usually diagonal, cracks which suddenly appear in plaster work inside and outside bricks at weak points, such as around doors and windows, he said.

These may indicate movement in the building's foundations. The cracks will normally be thicker than a ten pence coin and usually be wider at the top. Householders who have concerns should contact their home insurer as soon as possible.

While the dry weather could cause subsidence, colder weather over the coming winter could also pose home insurance risks such as burst pipes and flooding .