Subsidence. Part 3
Another common cause of Subsidence is leaking drains.
What happens here is that it’s a knock-on effect. An old clay drain pipe which traditionally had cement joints can over time become porous and water from the roof (stormwater) or water from the sinks and toilets (foul water) can start to leak into the ground. This localised saturation can cause the soil to ‘wash away’ under the foundation leaving a void where over time the foundation can drop, leaving the wall above unsupported and prone to cracking.

If you are looking to purchase a property that has suffered from subsidence it can be rectified by a process called underpinning.
This is where sections of the ground under the existing foundations are excavated and new deeper foundations are poured.
Of course, the cause of the initial problems needs to be addressed first.
If the property is of facing brick then making the area look aesthetically pleasing will prove to be difficult unless you are able to render over the walls. If the walls were originally rendered then this is far easier to blend in.
You should seek advice from your insurance company or broker about their position with regard to subsidence, and make enquiries from the vendor whether there have been any previous claims for subsidence.
Anyone who wants to insure a property having made a claim would almost certainly have to seek help from a specialist as most firms are reluctant to take on a known subsidence risk.
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