UK subsidence claims surge after hottest summer on record
Guardian AU Business
β’Sat, 05 Sep 2026 06:00:30 GMT
π° What Happened
UK insurers are experiencing a surge in homeowners' claims for subsidence after the hottest summer on record, with Hastings Direct reporting a near-140% jump in claims to an all-time high for August. Insurance firms say they have been overrun by calls and online queries, with claims rising during the five heatwaves that followed the warmest spring ever recorded in England and Wales. Subsidence claims normally peak in late summer and autumn, but this year they jumped in number during the summer itself.
π The Backstory
Hot, dry weather causes the ground under houses to shrink and drag down a property's foundations, and the British Geological Survey has said millions of homes are at risk of subsidence because of the worsening climate crisis. The most vulnerable areas include London, Essex, Kent and a tranche of land from Oxford up to the Wash on England's east coast, with older properties at greater risk. Hastings Direct, which has 4.8 million home and motor insurance customers, said it received a record number of claims in August.
π― Why It Matters
Subsidence repair is expensive and disruptive for homeowners, and rising claim volumes can push up insurance premiums. As hotter, drier summers become more frequent, the problem is a direct and costly consequence of climate change landing on people's doorsteps.
UK insurers are experiencing a surge in homeowners' claims for subsidence after the hottest summer on record, with Hastings Direct reporting a near-140% jump in claims to an all-time high for August. Insurance firms say they have been overrun by calls and online queries, with claims rising during the five heatwaves that followed the warmest spring ever recorded in England and Wales. Subsidence claims normally peak in late summer and autumn, but this year they jumped in number during the summer itself.
Hot, dry weather causes the ground under houses to shrink and drag down a property's foundations, and the British Geological Survey has said millions of homes are at risk of subsidence because of the worsening climate crisis. The most vulnerable areas include London, Essex, Kent and a tranche of land from Oxford up to the Wash on England's east coast, with older properties at greater risk. Hastings Direct, which has 4.8 million home and motor insurance customers, said it received a record number of claims in August.
Subsidence repair is expensive and disruptive for homeowners, and rising claim volumes can push up insurance premiums. As hotter, drier summers become more frequent, the problem is a direct and costly consequence of climate change landing on people's doorsteps.