As the UK braces for a potential 40C heatwave this week, a new map from home insurance experts at Uswitch, using data from the British Geological Survey, has revealed which areas of the Midlands face subsidence risk. Subsidence has overtaken all other claim types to become the single biggest payout in UK home insurance, with the Association of British Insurers reporting a record £307 million paid out in 2025 and an average claim close to £17,000.
Midlands Risk Levels
No areas in the Midlands are marked red on the map, indicating significant risk. However, several yellow zones show moderate risk, meaning there is some clay in the soil that could lead to hairline cracks after a long dry spell, according to Uswitch. The map is color-coded: green for low risk, yellow for moderate, and red for significant.
Leoni Moninska, Insurance Expert at Uswitch, said: "Subsidence is an area where homeowners can easily be caught out - both by the risk to their property and by the excess they’d face on a claim."
Subsidence and Insurance Costs
Subsidence claims are structurally complex and expensive to investigate. While most home insurance policies charge an excess of £100 to £250 for routine claims, subsidence cover typically carries an excess between £1,000 and £2,500 - four to ten times higher. This means homeowners face four-figure costs before their insurer starts paying.
Nationally, one in 10 land zones in Britain sits on soil classed as a significant subsidence risk by the British Geological Survey. The worst-affected band runs from Dorset up through London and the East into North Yorkshire, with London Clay being the highest-risk geology.
Advice for Homeowners
If you suspect subsidence, Uswitch recommends getting a chartered surveyor’s diagnosis before contacting your insurer. This prevents the enquiry from being logged in the Claims and Underwriting Exchange (CUE) database, which can affect future premiums even if the crack turns out to be harmless.
Moninska added: "If you spot a crack, photograph it and monitor it over a few months. If it’s still changing, call a chartered surveyor for a diagnosis before involving your insurer. Use our subsidence risk map to check your area. If needed, make sure your home insurance policy includes subsidence cover, and find out what excess you’d face - so you know you’re on the right policy for your home."
Homeowners in moderate or significant risk areas are advised to check their policy for subsidence cover, as most policies include it but with a higher excess.
