Portsmouth · Hampshire
Subsidence insurance claim repairs in Portsmouth
Across Portsmouth and Hampshire, the subsidence excess on most buildings policies is commonly about £1,000, though yours may differ. Check your schedule early, because the excess usually applies once per claim regardless of the final repair cost.
- Postcodes
- PO1, PO2, PO5
- Population
- about 210,000
- Area
- Hampshire
- Pricing region
- South East
What should you know about the ground under Portsmouth?
With roughly 210,000 people, Portsmouth spans postcode districts PO1, PO2, PO5 in Hampshire. Nearby, we also cover Fareham (5 miles), Hayling Island (5 miles) and Havant (6 miles).
Shrinkable clay is widespread in Hampshire. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. What you mostly find across Hampshire: Victorian terraces in Portsmouth and Southampton, 1930s semis, and large post-war and new-build estates.
Guide prices for subsidence insurance claim repairs in Portsmouth
Guide prices below are for homes in Portsmouth, on South East rates and including VAT. A survey or good photos let us turn them into a fixed written price.
| 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 | — |
Methods for subsidence insurance claim repairs
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
Betterment priced separately
Many homeowners take the chance to do extra work while trades are on site, such as redecorating whole rooms or upgrading finishes. That betterment sits outside the claim, so we price it as a separate written quote, keeping the claim work clear.
Best for: Extra work you choose beyond the agreed claim repair
From first photo to finished repair
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.
Mitigation and monitoring
The identified cause is dealt with, perhaps a drain repair or tree work, and the house may be monitored for several months, sometimes up to 12, to confirm it has stabilised before repairs are agreed.
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.
Symptoms that point to subsidence insurance claim repairs
- Monitoring has finished and a repair scope has been issued
- New cracks you think may be caused by ground movement
- An engineer’s report saying the cracking is subsidence-related
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.
Frequently asked questions
How much will subsidence insurance claim repairs cost in Portsmouth?
There is no charge for us to price an insurer’s schedule in Portsmouth. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.
Do you cover Portsmouth?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Portsmouth, including PO1, PO2, PO5, and from nearby places such as Fareham and Hayling Island. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Is the ground in Hampshire prone to subsidence?
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 do I make a subsidence claim?
Contact your buildings insurer as soon as you suspect subsidence, with dated photos and a note of when the cracks appeared. They will usually appoint a loss adjuster to visit. Do not start permanent repairs before the insurer has seen the damage.
What is betterment in a subsidence claim?
Betterment is any improvement beyond restoring the home to its condition before the damage, such as upgrading finishes or redecorating extra rooms. The insurer does not normally pay for it. We price betterment as a separate written quote, so it is clearly kept outside the claim.
Other structural repairs in Portsmouth
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
- Extension pulling away repairs
- Crack stitching
- Chimney stack repairs
- Bay window subsidence repairs
Subsidence insurance claim repairs near Portsmouth
Not yet told your insurer about cracks at your Portsmouth property? Do that first, then send us photos for a free initial assessment.