Landlords are being urged to check their properties for signs of subsidence as soaring temperatures and increasingly dry summers fuel a sharp rise in insurance claims across the UK.
New figures from landlord insurer Simply Business show subsidence claims jumped by 74% in 2025 compared to the previous year, with the company recording 440 claims – the highest level seen in the last five years.
The warning comes as Britain faces another spell of hot weather and growing concern over the long-term impact of climate change on the nation’s housing stock.
According to Simply Business, hotter and drier summers are increasing the likelihood of the ground beneath homes drying out, shrinking and shifting – one of the primary causes of subsidence.
GROWING THREAT
The issue is expected to become increasingly severe over the coming decades. The latest Climate Change Committee (CCC) report identified subsidence as a growing threat to UK homes, particularly across London and the South East, where clay-heavy soils are more vulnerable to movement during prolonged dry spells.
Property owners are now being encouraged to monitor homes closely for early warning signs before damage escalates into more serious structural problems.
Among the most common indicators are cracks in internal walls or external brickwork, particularly those wider than 3mm, diagonal in shape, or wider at the top than the bottom. Cracks appearing around doors and windows, sticking doors and warped frames can also indicate movement within the property.
Other warning signs include wallpaper crinkling where it meets the ceiling, cracks where extensions join the main building, and external doors becoming difficult to close.
Industry experts warn that early intervention is critical, as subsidence can not only lead to expensive repairs but also impact mortgage availability and property values.
AGEING HOUSING STOCK
Mark Sharman, Claims Operations Lead at Simply Business, says: “Subsidence occurs when the ground beneath a property dries out, shrinks and shifts, and as summers get hotter and drier, the conditions that cause it are becoming more common.
“We saw that clearly last year: our claims data recorded 440 subsidence claims in 2025, a 74% jump on the year before and the highest figure we’ve seen in five years.
“While another summer heatwave may feel routine, the CCC’s new report is a reminder that the risks building beneath the surface are anything but.
“It explicitly identifies subsidence as a growing risk to UK properties, and warns that summers like 2022 and 2025 are set to become the norm by 2050, with London and the South East among the most exposed regions.
“For landlords in those areas especially, this is something to check routinely and act on proactively, before the cost of doing nothing becomes much harder to ignore.”
