BriefTea
Every story in sixty words
Get the free app no ads · no paywallExplained in plain English
Subsidence is when the ground beneath a building sinks, causing the property's foundations to move downwards. This can lead to cracks in walls and other structural damage. In London, the shrinking clay soil during droughts is a common cause, especially for homes built between the post-war period and the 1980s.
Stories that explain this
Home insurance claims for subsidence jump after hottest UK summer London's clay ground will take ages to recover from droughtRelated explainers
Why does clay shrink? How does climate change affect homes? What is a heatwave? Why are older homes at risk? How does rain help clay? Why are some homes vulnerable?The full catalogue
Browse every card filed under S →We would like to count visits and see which links bring readers here. That means storing a random ID in your browser. No cookies, no ads, no profile. How it works.