Subsidence at your home can be catastrophic and put at risk what for most people is their most valuable asset.

Before the insurance company will accept that you have a valid claim, there will need to be extensive site investigations such as trial holes, soil tests, drainage tests and monitoring that can go on for months or even years. Throughout this period, you have to endure the distress of seeing your home literally falling apart around you.

Many issues need to be addressed, such as:

• How long will it all take?

• Who decides what work needs to be carried out?

• Do you have to use the insurance company's surveyors, engineers and contractors?

• How will you know if the work is being carried out correctly?

• Who will co-ordinate and present the claim and deal with the daily telephone calls, meetings with the insurance company, loss adjuster, surveyors, engineers, contractors and suppliers etc?

Unless you appoint a claims consultant like Morgan Clark, you as the policyholder are responsible for all of the above - and a lot more besides.

Don't forget - the loss adjuster works for the insurance company and is only interested in looking at the costs once they have been presented to him. He is not responsible for preparing your claim. Even if outwardly friendly and helpful, the loss adjuster reports to the insurance company and must settle the claim as economically as he can. Unless you happen to be an insurance expert yourself, you simply won't know whether what he is telling you is correct or not, or whether you are getting what you're entitled to.

With some insurance companies reporting 300% increases in new subsidence claims following last year's record summer, they are becoming more and more reluctant to pay for underpinning (strengthening the foundations to prevent further movement), opting instead for cosmetic repairs in the hope that the problem won't recur. It is not unknown for insurance companies to 'patch up' properties two or even three times before finally accepting their obligations to solve the cause of the problem.

Engaging specialists like Morgan Clark to look after your interests is the only way you can be truly sure that you receive your full entitlement. Click here to read more about how we can help you.

For a no obligation review of your claim by an experienced consultant, please call us on 0800 0975156 right now, or take a minute to complete our online enquiry form.