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Check homes for subsidence, comparison site advises

Monday, 4 October 2010 6:00 PM

Homeowners have been urged to check if their home insurance covers them for subsidence, after the driest start to the year for eight decades.

According to moneysupermarket.com, as October is also expected to be a warmer than usual month, householders are more at risk of experiencing dry ground beneath their property, which can become unstable.

Homes with trees in the garden or nearby are particularly prone to subsidence, as roots grow longer in search of water during dry periods.

"The most common sign of subsidence is cracks appearing in a wall, especially around the door and window frames," commented Julie Owens, head of home insurance at moneysupermarket.com.

"However, homeowners or buyers should only be alarmed when cracks are wider than a 10p coin, or where the cracks are wider at the top than at the bottom."

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has also published a free guide on subsidence, detailing how it can be fixed and who is responsible to pay for it.

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