Ashford · Kent
Subsidence insurance claim repairs in Ashford
Before any repair to a Ashford 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
- TN23, TN24
- Population
- about 63,000
- Area
- Kent
- Pricing region
- South East
Why does the ground in Kent matter for subsidence insurance claim repairs?
Ashford (TN23, TN24) has around 63,000 residents and sits in Kent. If you are just outside Ashford, we also cover Faversham (12 miles), Canterbury (13 miles) and Folkestone (13 miles).
Shrinkable clay is widespread in Kent. Parts of Kent lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Housing stock in Kent: Victorian terraces in the Medway towns, weatherboarded and Wealden houses, 1930s semis and seaside bungalows.
Is it time for subsidence insurance claim repairs? Common signs
- An engineer’s report saying the cracking is subsidence-related
- A letter from a loss adjuster asking for access
- Monitoring has finished and a repair scope has been issued
What should you budget for subsidence insurance claim repairs in Ashford?
For Ashford we use South East rates. Treat the table as a budget guide, inc VAT; the price you pay is the one on your written quote.
| 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
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
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
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.
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 Ashford?
There is no charge for us to price an insurer’s schedule in Ashford. 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 Ashford?
Yes, Ashford is covered, along with postcode districts TN23, TN24. We also cover nearby Faversham and Canterbury.
Does the ground around Ashford cause cracking?
North Kent sits on London Clay, central Kent on Gault and Weald Clays and the Downs on chalk, so shrinkable clay is widespread. East Kent around Deal and Dover had a small deep coalfield, worked until the late 1980s. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
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.
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 Ashford
Subsidence insurance claim repairs near Ashford
Send the loss adjuster’s schedule for your Ashford property, and we will price it at no charge and confirm a fixed price in writing.