Insurance after subsidence advice/experience

[venti]

We had subsidence in 2020, because of Covid it was slow going but it was all resolved by 2022 and we have a certificate of structural adequacy. We’ve stayed with the same insurer since and it’s due for renewal soon. I’ve just noticed in the policy summary it says no subsidence! I’m worried we are and haven’t been insured for the last 4 years. I contacted a different insurance company who refused us because of the subsidence. Im also worried about not having insurance because it’s a term of our mortgage. It’s a nightmare. Anyone else been through this and come out the other side?

I have noticed this with insurance policies like car insurance. I assumed that once you have made a claim they have it on their records and so are fully aware you made a claim in the last five years so don't understand why, when you get your renewal, it doesn't mention it. I find it weird and am interested in people's answers as to why it happens and how to rectify it if you haven't notified.

I had this, and I called up the insurer and they said that because I took the policy out when there wasn’t subsidence that’s why it wasn’t there, I’ve always felt a bit uneasy about it but the insurer was bought by another insurer and I called them as well, and they said the same thing.

I’d treat the wording in the renewal schedule as something to get clarified urgently rather than assume you have or haven’t been covered. Call the current insurer and ask them to confirm in writing that the 2020 subsidence claim is recorded, the remedial work was accepted as complete, the certificate of structural adequacy is on file, and what subsidence or existing-damage exclusions apply. Ask them to explain exactly what “no subsidence” means in the summary — it may be a renewal-summary field rather than a statement that the historic event never happened, but only the insurer can confirm that.

Keep the claim-closure letter, engineer’s certificate, invoices, monitoring reports and any photos together. When obtaining quotes, answer the historical-subsidence questions exactly and send those documents rather than relying on the policy summary. A specialist broker may be able to help place the risk, but check the lender’s requirements too and tell the lender if cover is genuinely uncertain. Don’t cancel the current policy until replacement cover is accepted and active.