Dry weather causing subsidence threat

Climate change could have an effect on the number of home insurance claims made in Britain.

New research shows that the 80 per cent of garden centres in the country have seen an increase in people enquiring about subsidence of their property in the last year.

This is thought to be down to the hot weather which has led to soil drying out and tree roots moving to find water, leading to the ground beneath properties being destabilised.

“Last year’s water restrictions highlighted the threatening conditions for subsidence,” said Neil Curling from Halifax Home Insurance.

“With Britain having already experienced unprecedented high temperatures in 2007 and an extremely dry April, we are concerned that increasing numbers of properties could be affected and are urging householders to be vigilant to this threat.”

The Met Office is predicting above average temperatures for the summer ahead, which will only exacerbate the problem, but homeowners’ habits could also be having an effect.

Around 76 per cent of garden centre managers say that demand for exotic plants and trees has increased in the last 12 months but Halifax is warning buyers to do their research first.

“Green-fingered Britons planting new exotic species, should carefully research the impact they could have on their garden and their home,” continued Mr Curling.

“Britons may be unaware of the appropriate distance to plant an exotic species away from their property to ensure the tree or shrub’s root system does not cause subsidence later down the line as the roots take water out of the soil.”

Halifax says that something as simple as trimming a tree or shrub can keep protect a property from subsidence.

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