Insurers have been warned to prepare for a potential surge in subsidence claims this year, following a prolonged period of below-average rainfall in parts of the UK.

According to EuroTempest’s latest Subsidence Risk Assessment, South-East England has now experienced five consecutive months of below-average rainfall, with the February to June period recording just 51.5% of the long-term average. This makes it the seventh driest on record for the region.

The report highlights similarities to 2003 – a major year for subsidence, with more than 55,000 claims – and notes that unless the rest of summer is unusually wet, a sharp rise in claims is likely. Current forecasts suggest only average rainfall through to September, with a bias toward drier-than-normal conditions in the South-East.

EuroTempest said insurers should be alert to the increasing risk, and monitor regional soil moisture and exposure levels.

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