Eastleigh · Hampshire
Subsidence insurance claim repairs in Eastleigh
Before any repair to a Eastleigh home under a subsidence claim, the insurer needs to see the damage and agree the scope. Starting work early can complicate matters, so tell your insurer first and keep dated photographs.
- Postcodes
- SO50, SO53
- Population
- about 54,000
- Area
- Hampshire
- Pricing region
- South East
Is Hampshire prone to ground movement?
Eastleigh is in Hampshire and takes in postcode districts SO50, SO53. About 54,000 people live there. If you are just outside Eastleigh, we also cover Hedge End (4 miles), Southampton (5 miles) and Romsey (7 miles).
Shrinkable clay is widespread in Hampshire. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. Housing stock in Hampshire: Victorian terraces in Portsmouth and Southampton, 1930s semis, and large post-war and new-build estates.
What to expect when we carry out subsidence insurance claim repairs
Notify your insurer
Report suspected subsidence to your buildings insurer as soon as you notice it, with dated photos. Do not start permanent repairs first. Check your schedule for the subsidence excess, which is commonly about £1,000.
Loss adjuster and engineer
The insurer usually appoints a loss adjuster, who visits and may bring in an engineer. They record the damage, ask about its history and arrange investigations such as a CCTV drain survey, trial pits and a tree survey.
Repairs and sign-off
With the scope agreed, we carry out the repairs, deal with building control where required and make good. Keep the paperwork, which helps with future insurance and if you sell the house.
Is it time for subsidence insurance claim repairs? Common signs
- New cracks you think may be caused by ground movement
- An engineer’s report saying the cracking is subsidence-related
- You want extra work done while claim repairs are under way
What should you budget for subsidence insurance claim repairs in Eastleigh?
These are guide prices for Eastleigh, using South East rates and including VAT. Your written quote follows photos or a survey, and is fixed once the repair is specified.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Your policy excess for subsidence (check your schedule) | £1,000 | commonly |
| Pricing a loss adjuster's or engineer's repair scheduleest. | Free to request | — |
| Repairs outside the claim (betterment, decoration upgrades)est. | Priced separately | — |
Repair options we may recommend
Pricing the adjuster’s or engineer’s schedule
When the claim reaches the repair stage, we price the schedule of work line by line, at no charge to request. You or the adjuster can compare it against other prices. The figures follow the agreed scope, so nothing is quietly added or left out.
Best for: Homeowners asked to obtain quotes for an agreed scope
Carrying out the agreed repairs
Once the scope is agreed and you instruct us, we carry out the repair, which is often crack stitching, repointing, replastering and redecoration, and sometimes drain or foundation work. We deal with building control where the work needs it and keep the adjuster informed.
Best for: Claims where the repair scope has been settled
Rules for subsidence insurance claim repairs in England
Like-for-like repairs such as crack stitching and repointing do not usually need building control approval in England, but anything that changes or strengthens the structure, such as underpinning or rebuilding a wall, does. If the work touches a party wall, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 may apply.
Your subsidence insurance claim repairs questions
What is the price of subsidence insurance claim repairs in Eastleigh?
There is no charge for us to price an insurer’s schedule in Eastleigh. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.
Do you carry out subsidence insurance claim repairs in Eastleigh?
We do. Eastleigh and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Hedge End and Southampton. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Does the ground around Eastleigh cause cracking?
Central Hampshire is chalk, while the south around Portsmouth, Southampton and the New Forest fringe and the north-east around Farnborough sit on London Clay, Reading Beds and other clays and sands. The clay areas see seasonal movement near trees. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
How long does a subsidence claim take?
Many claims take several months to over a year, mostly because of investigations and monitoring. On clay, insurers often want readings across a summer and winter before agreeing a repair. The repairs themselves are usually much quicker once the scope is settled.
Will the insurer pay for underpinning?
Only if investigations show it is needed, which is less common than many people expect. Most subsidence claims are fixed by dealing with the cause, such as a drain or tree, and then repairing the cracks. The insurer’s engineer recommends the method.
More repairs we carry out in Eastleigh
- Retaining wall repairs
- Underpinning
- Extension pulling away repairs
- Brick arch repairs
- Wall tie replacement
Subsidence insurance claim repairs near Eastleigh
For a no-obligation written quote on claim repairs at your Eastleigh home, send the schedule and a few photos of the damaged areas.