House purchase - Moderate subsidence risk

[Seaswallow]

We have just had searches back which state the house we are buying has a moderate subsidence risk due to shifting sand in ground (no risk of ground collapse- not in a mining area- it's in a coastal town)

Survey didn't pick up any problems, but we have had a specialist search done that says there are already subsidence insurance claims in the road the house is on (houses are about 20 years old). It says it is in the lowest 25% of houses in the moderate category of risk- the only houses lower are those in roads with no subsidence claims.

The solicitor can't advise and the surveyor says the cracks are minor, so 'our' house isn't affected by subsidence. (I guess this means 'at present'!)

It took ages to find a house to buy (the area is very popular) and we will have to move into expensive rented if we pull out as our buyers are ready to exchange. What would you do???

I would proceed on the condition I was able to get sufficient buildings insurance to cover the risk.

Ours came back as high risk because of the soil type. It totally freaked me out. But after a lot of soul searching I came to the logical conclusion that it wasn’t currently subsiding, we can get insurance and because of the local soil type this was going to be an issue with a lot of houses in our search area…. We bought it and now I spend my life agonising over every tiny crack I see!!! If it’s an issue that is going to affect a lot of houses you see that is different to if it’s an issue that specifically affects this property….

Can you get insurance for a decent price?

Is your lender still happy?

Has the solicitor given any advice?

If you can insure it well; without it costing the earth, I wouldn’t be massively worried - but I’d be concerned about how it’ll impact you when you want to sell it on.

Thanks for responses- solicitor wouldn't advise, just said very popular area and houses sell fast. I have spoken to the surveyor, and also a specialist local surveyor, and checked insurance. Advice is:

1- apparently 1/3 (?!) of UK houses are in the 'moderate'risk category for this search, and there is big difference between the moderate levels
2-if there was a subsidence problem it would likely have shown up by now
3- our street is lowest category of moderate risk- just above the low/no risk- no limits on mortgage or insurance
4- area is very popular and not expected to change for resale.

So hope that helps anyone else with this search result...