Order a Subsidence Report
Are you worried about buying a house with a compromised structure? Find out if the property is at risk for a fixed fee of £45 INC VAT**. Report emailed within 2 working hours*.

The report will assess subsidence and landslide risks, as well as check for geo & mining and other hazards in the surrounding area.

Subsidence Report

(Last Updated: 29/11/2023)
17/05/2022
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5 min read
Key Takeaways
  • When buying a house, you must check for subsidence, as you want to make sure that the ground underneath it is stable.
  • Subsidence can be a result of different factors, such as trees in the near vicinity of the property, coal mining activity, clay subsoils or water leaking.
  • This subsidence report gives you a risk and information about remedial work that may need to be done. You can read an example report below.
  • This report costs £45 INC VAT** and the turnaround time is 2 working hours*.

How to check for subsidence

A subsidence survey, or report, also known as FCI Ground Stability Report, informs you if your property is in an area affected by subsidence due to soil shrinkage.

One of the greatest risks to properties is subsidence. If you're interested in buying a house, it is recommended you get a subsidence report, as the costs to repair damages caused by this can be very expensive.

This report will cover:
  • Property Subsidence Assessment
  • Geohazards
  • Mapped Landslides
  • Slope Instability
  • Mining Activity
  • Modified Ground
  • Natural Cavities & Soluble Rocks
Subsidence Report

A subsidence survey is often flagged by solicitors as a requirement during the conveyancing process because it has been highlighted within the Environmental Report in the Ground Stability Section.

This report does not give full confirmation that you have subsidence, but it highlights that there are man-made factors or natural factors within 25-250 metres of the property, which might affect the property's stability.

Risks are flagged up as before at the start of the report as ‘Identified’ or 'None Identified'. Mortgage Lenders take subsidence very seriously and if they suspect that your property has any signs of subsidence then they may not lend you the money until the issue is addressed.

Alternatively, if you're a cash buyer, you will not be required to get this search. However, if your house is at risk, this could end up causing you to suffer financial losses. It is recommended to get this report before making a purchase.

What is in a Subsidence Report?

  • Overall risk assessment
At the top of the report, in very large font size, is an overall opinion of your property's level of subsidence risk, from low to very high risk.

  • Professional opinion
This next section explains in greater detail why your property has been given its risk rating. It further explains subsidence itself and then suggests ways in which you take action to lessen your risk.

  • Detailed Subsidence Information
This section gives you an in-depth definition of subsidence and lists not just the main causes but many other indirect factors which may encourage the problem. The details provided can give you a greater number of points to consider when viewing any property you are considering buying.

  • Information about remedial work
This section explains what you should do if you have concerns about subsidence and, if it is found that a property has it, what certification any remedial work has to have to be regarded as legally acceptable.

  • Guide to high/very high risk ratings
This section makes clear that the report and its subsidence risk rating are essentially based on postcodes; an estimated 30% of postcodes in England and Wales have a high or very high risk. It explains what further checks you should carry out on the property to assess its risk, even if its postcode rating is high/very high.

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Caragh Bailey, Digital Marketing Manager
Written by:

Caragh is an excellent writer and copy editor of books, news articles and editorials. She has written extensively for SAM for a variety of conveyancing, survey, property law and mortgage-related articles.

Andrew Boast of Sam Conveyancing
Reviewed by:
Andrew started his career in 2000 working within conveyancing solicitor firms and grew hands-on knowledge of a wide variety of conveyancing challenges and solutions. After helping in excess of 50,000 clients in his career, he uses all this experience within his article writing for SAM, mainstream media and his self published book How to Buy a House Without Killing Anyone.
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