What is the difference between subsidence, settlement, heave and landslip?
Subsidence is just one of the types of ground movement beneath a property, but there are others including settlement, heave and landslip
Settlement and subsidence are often confused. It’s important to understand the difference between the two, because some insurers will cover subsidence but not settlement.
Total Landlord, for example, does not cover the normal settlement, shrinkage or bedding down of new structure or the settlement or shrinkage of made up ground or of materials brought to the site.
Settlement occurs when the ground below a property is compacted by the weight of the building.
This usually happens in the first 10 years after building and is relatively common. Cracks in the walls caused by settlement are usually harmless and can be plastered over.
However, cracks that appear and continue to grow, reaching a width of 15mm or more, should be investigated to make sure that the property is structurally sound.
Heave is essentially subsidence in reverse. The ground below your foundations moves upwards, causing the foundations, walls and floors to shift.
The most common cause of heave is when the soil beneath the house becomes saturated with water that has no way to escape. This causes the soil to expand, pushing the foundations upwards or sideways.
Subsidence is down, heave is up – so what is landslip?
Landslip is the sideways movement of the ground beneath a property, often the result of soil erosion or the property being built upon or near to a slope.
