StructuralEngineer.ie's summary: a subsidence insurance claim in Ireland usually runs notification, then the insurer's engineer's report on the cause, then monitoring where needed, then agreed repairs, with a subsidence excess, often €1,000–€2,500, deducted from the settlement. Most claims that go wrong do so over cause: subsidence is covered, while "settlement" and defective workmanship are usually excluded.
What a buildings policy usually covers
Most Irish home buildings policies cover subsidence, heave and landslip, the ground moving under the house. They usually exclude:
- Settlement, the normal bedding-down of new structures, including new extensions
- Defective design, materials or workmanship
- Coastal or river erosion in some policies
- Damage that started before the policy began
Read the definitions in your own policy, because they decide the claim.
How a claim usually runs
- Notify the insurer as soon as you suspect movement.
- The insurer’s engineer or loss adjuster inspects and reports on the likely cause.
- Monitoring, where the cause isn’t clear: level or crack readings over months, possibly trial pits and a drain survey.
- Agreement on the cause and repairs: drain repair, tree management, crack repair or underpinning.
- Settlement, with the excess deducted. Some insurers hold back part of the payment until repairs are complete.
Why claims get disputed
Ombudsman decisions show the typical friction points. The insurer’s engineer may say the damage is settlement, shrinkage or an excluded cause. Competing engineers’ reports may disagree. Or the insurer may accept current damage but refuse future cover. In one published FSPO decision the insurer brought in a forensic engineering firm after the reports conflicted.
Where an independent engineer helps
The insurer’s engineer works for the insurer. An independent engineer’s report that records the crack pattern, timing, ground and likely cause gives you an evidence base to discuss the findings, and to take to the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman if needed. It also tells you early whether you have a claim at all, before you spend months on one that was never going to succeed.
Bottom line
Notify early, read the policy definitions, and get the cause established with evidence. If the insurer’s view doesn’t match what you see, an independent report is your next step. For a fixed-fee subsidence investigation, call 01 270 9764.
Want a fixed fee for your job? Call 01 270 9764.
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Frequently asked questions
Should I tell my insurer about cracks before I'm sure it's subsidence?
Generally yes. Policies require prompt notification of possible claims, and late notice can complicate things. You can notify while you investigate.
Will a subsidence claim affect my premium?
It can affect future premiums and terms, and you'll need to disclose it when you sell or switch insurer. That's another reason to establish the real cause with evidence.
Can I appoint my own engineer?
Yes. The insurer appoints theirs, but nothing stops you commissioning an independent report. In disputed claims it's often what makes the difference.
Sources
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