The short answer
You can switch insurer after a subsidence claim, but it is harder, because many mainstream insurers and comparison sites decline properties with a movement history. The history is recorded against the address, so a new insurer will ask about past subsidence and underpinning, and you must answer honestly. Three routes keep cover available: staying with your existing insurer, who already holds the claim and usually continues offering cover at renewal; using an insurance broker who can place non-standard risks; and approaching a specialist subsidence insurer. A completed repair with a Certificate of Structural Adequacy and the engineer's report makes you far more insurable, and the longer the property has been stable, the better the terms. Switching can sometimes lower a loaded premium, so it is worth shopping around through brokers even though the open market is narrower than for a standard home.
There is no rule stopping you from leaving your insurer after a subsidence claim, but the practicalities change. The sections below explain the obstacles and the realistic ways to move cover or improve your terms.
Switching at a glance
- Can you switch?Yes, but it is harder
- History attaches toThe property / address
- Best first optionYour existing insurer
- Non-standard routeBroker or specialist insurer
- Key evidenceCertificate of Structural Adequacy
Why switching is harder
Most price-comparison sites and many high-street insurers either decline a property with a subsidence history or load the premium and excess heavily. This is a risk decision, not a penalty: a building that has moved once is statistically more likely to move again, even after repair. Because the claim is recorded against the address, the difficulty applies whether you have lived there for years or have just bought the property. You must disclose the history accurately when you apply; under the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012, a careless or deliberate non-disclosure can leave a new policy unenforceable when you most need it.
There is also a continuity point that works in your favour. An insurer that has handled your subsidence claim already knows the property in detail and is generally willing to continue cover, whereas a new insurer must take the risk on cold. That asymmetry is why leaving can be harder than staying, and why the open market for a previously affected home is narrower than for a standard property. It does not mean you are trapped — it means the route to a switch usually runs through a broker or specialist rather than a comparison site.
Routes that keep cover available
Even where the open market is narrow, several routes reliably keep a previously affected property insured.
| Route | Why it helps | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Stay with existing insurer | Already holds the claim; usually continues cover | Properties mid- or recently repaired |
| Insurance broker | Can place non-standard and subsidence risks | Most previously affected homes |
| Specialist subsidence insurer | Prices movement history specifically | Underpinned or higher-risk homes |
| Wait for stability record | Years of no movement improves terms | Long-repaired, stable properties |
Indicative routes for guidance only. Sources: ABI subsidence guidance, British Insurance Brokers' Association (BIBA) Find Insurance service.
Timing your switch around the claim
Timing matters as much as the route. While a claim is open and works are unfinished, switching is usually impractical: a new insurer will not want to take on a property with an active subsidence claim, and your current insurer is the one obliged to see the existing claim through. The sensible point to test the market is after the repair is complete and the Certificate of Structural Adequacy has been issued, when you can present a finished, signed-off property rather than an ongoing problem.
Even then, do not let your existing cover lapse before new cover is confirmed. Arrange the replacement policy to start the moment the old one ends, so there is no gap during which the property is uninsured. If you are buying a property that has had subsidence, line cover up before exchange and completion, because a lender will require buildings insurance to be in place and standard policies may not be available on the day you need them.
When switching is worth it
Switching is most worthwhile when your renewal terms have been heavily loaded and the property has been stable for several years with a certificate in place. A broker can test the specialist market for you, and a settled repair history can bring the premium down compared with an automatic renewal. If your existing insurer is offering a competitive renewal, however, there is often little advantage in moving, because the new insurer starts from a higher base of caution. The British Insurance Brokers' Association runs a free Find Insurance signposting service that can point you to brokers who handle non-standard property.
When you do compare policies, weigh them on like-for-like terms, not headline price alone. Check the subsidence excess on each, whether the sum insured (rebuild cost) is adequate, and any special conditions attached because of the history. A lower premium that carries a much higher subsidence excess, a reduced sum insured, or an exclusion for further movement is not really better value. Reading the full schedule, and asking the broker to explain any subsidence-specific terms, is the difference between a genuine saving and a policy that would let you down on the one claim it exists to cover.
One more practical safeguard: keep the new insurer fully informed of the history during the application, and retain written confirmation of what you disclosed. If a future subsidence claim arises and the insurer queries what was said at the outset, your record of an accurate, complete disclosure is what protects the policy. Switching to save money is only worthwhile if the new cover is solid, and a documented, honest application is what makes it solid.
It is also worth weighing the value of continuity against a headline saving. An insurer that has already handled your claim knows the property's history in detail and has effectively absorbed the risk it represents; a new insurer is taking that risk on cold and will price cautiously to reflect it. That does not mean staying put is always cheaper, but it does mean a small premium reduction may not justify moving if it comes with a higher subsidence excess or a movement exclusion. The strongest case for switching is a heavily loaded renewal on a property that has been stable for years with a certificate in place, where a broker can demonstrate to the specialist market that the risk is now well understood and properly documented.
Frequently asked questions
Will any insurer take on a house that has had subsidence?
Yes. Many mainstream insurers decline, but brokers and specialist subsidence insurers regularly cover previously affected properties, especially where there is a Certificate of Structural Adequacy and a stable history since repair.
Do I have to declare subsidence to a new insurer?
Always. You must disclose any subsidence or underpinning history honestly. Under the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012, a non-disclosure can make a new policy unenforceable, leaving you uninsured.
Is it cheaper to stay with my current insurer?
Often, yes, because they already hold the claim and continue your cover, while a new insurer starts from a more cautious position. But if your renewal is heavily loaded, a broker testing the specialist market may find better terms.
Sources & further reading
- Association of British Insurers — subsidence guidance
- British Insurance Brokers' Association — Find Insurance service
Figures on this page are typical UK ranges drawn from published sources and depend on your specific property. They are guidance, not a quotation.