Free Subsidence Risk Postcode Checker

How do I check subsidence risk by postcode?

MyPropertyScan's instant signal uses public BGS Engineering Geology at 1:1 million scale as a directional indicator, not parcel-level GeoSure data. For address-specific susceptibility, obtain licensed GeoSure data or a conveyancing environmental search. Also check visible crack patterns, distorted doors or windows, nearby trees, drainage and claim history.

What does ground stability by postcode mean?

It means a directional geology description for that area rather than a graded score for one building. Our postcode checker reads two BGS Engineering Geology layers and returns one of three results: clay-rich ground (shrink-swell prone), clay-rich bedrock below sand or gravel surface deposits, or no clay-rich ground mapped at that scale. If one of the two layers cannot be read, it says so rather than giving a result. It describes what the ground is generally made of, such as clay, mudstone, sandstone or sand and gravel. It answers whether the local geology is a subsidence risk factor; it does not know whether any specific building has moved.

Which UK areas have the highest subsidence risk?

London Clay, which covers much of south-east England, is a high-plasticity clay with elevated shrink-swell susceptibility. Boroughs such as Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham, and parts of Essex and Kent, sit on it. Northern cities founded on harder sandstone and limestone typically have lower risk, though historic coal mining around Yorkshire, the Midlands and South Wales creates separate ground stability concerns.

Does subsidence risk affect insurance?

Insurers price mainly on claims history and evidence of ground movement, not on raw geology alone, so a high shrink-swell area does not automatically mean higher premiums. A property with a documented subsidence history or ongoing monitoring is typically more expensive to insure, and some insurers will not cover the risk until remedial work is verified. Always get a buildings insurance quote for the specific address before exchange.

Does subsidence affect getting a mortgage?

A history of subsidence makes a property harder to mortgage. Lenders require evidence that the cause was identified, remedied and stabilised: typically a structural engineer's report confirming works and a monitored period with no further movement. Buildings insurance for previously subsided properties is also more expensive and some insurers will not cover the risk.

What causes subsidence in UK homes?

The majority of UK subsidence claims are caused by clay shrink-swell: high-plasticity clays shrink in dry summers and swell in wet periods, causing foundation movement. Large trees close to the house accelerate this by drawing moisture from the clay. Other causes include leaking drains washing away soil, historic mine workings, and poorly compacted made ground.

What is natural ground subsidence?

Natural ground subsidence is downward ground movement caused by geological processes rather than mining or construction. BGS GeoSure covers six natural ground-stability hazards: shrink-swell clay, collapsible deposits, compressible ground, landslides, running sand and soluble rocks. A susceptibility result flags the ground conditions; it does not prove that a specific building is moving.

Can I search a subsidence claims database for a property?

There is no public UK database that lets a buyer search every subsidence insurance claim by address. The insurance industry's CUE database holds home-insurance incidents, but MIB provides personal subject access rather than a public property lookup. Ask the seller for claim and repair documents, have your conveyancer raise enquiries, obtain an insurance quote before exchange and investigate any physical warning signs through a surveyor or structural engineer.