Yes, subsidence is covered by most Irish home insurance policies, but it has the highest excess of any peril (often 1,000 to 2,500 euro), the longest claim timeline, and the most punishing renewal aftermath. A subsidence claim is one of the small number that genuinely changes a property’s insurability for years afterwards. Here is what cover applies and what to expect.
What subsidence cover pays for
Subsidence cover pays for the structural assessment, the monitoring period, the underpinning or remedial scheme, and the reinstatement of any cosmetic damage caused by the movement (cracking, broken windows, jammed doors, lifted floors). Alternative accommodation is covered where the property must be vacated for major works.
The cover applies regardless of cause, provided the cause meets the policy’s definition of subsidence (downward movement of the ground supporting the foundations).
What subsidence cover does not pay for
The exclusions are narrow but consequential:
- Settlement of newly-built property. The natural settling of a new build is excluded; the developer’s structural warranty applies.
- Pre-existing damage. Cracking that existed before the policy started is the policyholder’s problem.
- Cosmetic-only damage that does not threaten structural integrity. Hairline cracks without movement are usually declined.
How long a subsidence claim takes
Subsidence is the slowest claim type in Irish insurance. The typical timeline:
- Structural engineer’s initial inspection: 2 to 4 weeks
- Monitoring period (to confirm active movement): 6 to 12 months
- Cause investigation (drainage survey, root analysis, soil testing): 1 to 2 months
- Remedial scheme design: 1 to 2 months
- Underpinning or other works: 2 to 4 months
- Reinstatement of cosmetic damage: 1 to 2 months
Total: 12 to 24 months from notification to closure is common. The monitoring period is non-negotiable; the insurer needs evidence that movement is active rather than historical.
The renewal problem
Subsidence is the one peril where a single claim can affect the property’s insurability for a decade or more. After a subsidence claim:
- The current insurer may continue cover but with subsidence excluded going forward
- Other insurers will be reluctant to take on the risk
- Specialist non-standard brokers may be the only route
- The property’s resale value can be affected for years
This makes the original claim handling particularly important; the settlement and the documented cause stay on the record.
When to call a loss assessor
Subsidence is the claim type where loss assessor involvement makes the most difference. The complexity, timeline, and renewal consequences mean that a properly handled claim is meaningfully better long-term than a poorly handled one. We work with structural engineers and forensic investigators on every subsidence damage claim.
If you suspect subsidence
Stepped cracking on the front gable, doors that no longer close, gaps appearing between window frames and walls, lifted or cracked external paths near the building. Any of these warrant a structural engineer’s opinion, ideally before notifying the insurer so you have an independent baseline.
Written by the team at N.J. Carroll & Associates, insurance loss assessors and quantity surveyors, established 1988.
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