Month: August 2022

The extreme hot, dry summers and reasonably dry winters in recent years has caused the insurance industry to see an increase in subsidence in buildings.

Subsidence is the downward movement of the ground supporting the building. Damage occurs because the movement is often uneven, causing cracks in walls, floors and ceilings. The main cause of subsidence
in the UK is the shrinkage in dry weather of clay soils which expand and contract with changes in their moisture content. The escape of water form leaking or damaged drains below the ground can also cause
subsidence.

Research has shown that the majority of subsidence problems involve trees to some degree. Trees more likely to cause problems than other have fine root structures longer than other species, such as poplars,
willows, elms and oaks.

Typical signs of subsidence usually show with the following:

• Cracks from both inside and outside the property
• Doors and windows sticking, this suggests distortion of the building

All buildings can suffer minor cracking from other causes such as “settling” when a new building has been built. Drying and shrinkage of building materials – which can be sorted during routine maintenance or redecoration.

How can we avoid issues?

• Do not plant trees or large shrubs too close to property, including garages and outbuildings.
• Trees that were planted before a property was built must be kept at a manageable level to ensure the amount of foliage produced is in control. This will help reduce the amount of water it requires and will avoid the tree taking over the area and potentially causing damage to property.
• Trees that were planted before a property has been built should never be removed as this can cause uplift of the ground or “heave” (upward movement of the ground supporting the building – the opposite of subsidence).
• Always check before altering or removing a tree whether there is a preservation order. You must obtain appropriate consent before commencing any works.

Try and always ensure you have subsidence cover within your policy. It may be that subsidence cover is excluded for various reasons but if it is included it certainly is worth having included in your policy.

 

More and more people are starting to attach solar panels to their homes – in fact, in the summer months, more than a tenth of the UK electricity supply comes from solar power. That’s great news for the planet!

But there’s always the risk that something might damage your solar panels – and with a hefty installation cost, you’ll want to make sure your solar panels are protected by your home insurance. Particularly with the hotter weather we have been having this year, articles in the news have highlight a few incidents where solar panels have caused fires within homes due to faults within the installation process. That’s why it’s important more than ever that you ensure you are well covered for these types of situations.

Most insurers include solar panels as standard – which means it shouldn’t cost any extra to get your solar panels insured.

It’s always a good idea to contact your insurer when you’re making any significant changes to your property – and that includes adding solar panels. They need to know exactly what’s included in the structure of your home just in case it needs to be rebuilt.

Adding solar panels increases the rebuild value of your home, and that’s certainly something you’ll need to let them know. Additionally, you’ll want to be absolutely certain that your solar panels are included in your policy, so give them all a call if you’re considering it.

All types of solar panel should be covered by your home insurance, so long as they’re attached to your home. If you have a freestanding solar panel in your garden or on a balcony, it doesn’t count as part of the structure of your house – so it won’t be included as part of your buildings insurance.

Your home insurance will protect your solar panels against fire, water, extreme weather, falling trees, and other dangers – but what if someone damages them by mistake? It’s always worth checking with your insurer first, but in many cases your standard policy won’t include accidental damage to your solar panels.

Luckily, most insurers offer accidental damage cover as an add-on to their standard policies. It’ll cost you extra, but it means your panels will be protected if anyone breaks them by mistake.

Home insurance doesn’t cover wear and tear: it’s up to you to keep your property in good working order, and you won’t get compensated when your solar panels finally reach the end of their lifespan.

It never hurts to check you have the right level of cover for peace of mind, call us today!