July 17, 2026
The heat is on – how climate change is impacting below ground services insurance claims
This summer’s heatwaves, and the climate change behind them, are putting homes and business...
Building Subsidence
Subsidence is the vertical downward movement of a building foundation caused by loss of support of the site beneath the foundations. It can occur suddenly or gradually.
It is one of the most serious and distressing problems a property owner or manager can face, and with the UK experiencing more volatile weather (frequent periods of heavy rainfall interspersed with longer periods of dry weather), building subsidence risk is a growing concern.
There are many causes of subsidence, including leaking drains and sewers. This causes the softening of supporting soils or washing away of fine materials such as sandy soil, resulting in the loss of support to the house foundation, as shown in this illustration.
Catalyst will investigate subsidence problems and support contractors to put in place robust and practical solutions. Our aim is to tackle subsidence threats as early and quickly as possible, giving home owners and managers peace of mind and supporting property value.
Click here to find out more about the causes of subsidence and our range of investigative services.
Latest News From Catalyst
Helping business and domestic customers every day of the year
June 23, 2026
All aboard! Next stop industry leading subsidence training
Insurance professionals were on track to significantly boost their understanding of one of the most complex property maintenance issues by attending the Subsidence Forum Training Day....
May 21, 2026
Skills renewal vital to counter subsidence threat, Catalyst’s Paul Duddle tells conference
With more subsidence data available than ever before, having the right expertise to use...