What Causes Subsidence?

The main cause of subsidence movement in the UK is the influence of tree roots in clay soil. Over 60% of all subsidence claims are triggered by trees.

Tree roots absorb water for photosynthesis and moisture evaporates from the leaves through transpiration. The active period is predominantly in spring and early summer, when, tree growth is at its maximum.

With larger trees in shrinkable clay soil the tree can extract sufficient moisture to cause soil shrinkage, which may lead to subsidence.

Tree species vary considerably in their ability to cause clay soil shrinkage, with a mature deciduous tree capable of using more than 50,000 litres of water a year.

Each species of tree has a zone of influence – the area from which it absorbs water. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has produced a guide for tree types and their recommended distance from a property. As a rule of thumb, the radius of a tree’s zone of influence is roughly the same as its height.

Leaking drains and pipes are the second highest cause of house subsidence; accounting for about 15-20% of subsidence incidents. There are two ways in which a leaking drain or water main can cause subsidence:

Softening the ground and its load bearing capacity, resulting in the downward movement of the foundations

Washing away fine particles in a non-cohesive soil, reducing the volume of the soil

It is rare for a drain to have its joints forced open by a tree root. More commonly, a tree root will grow into an open joint or cracked pipe, causing additional damage and worsening the leak.

Drains are usually laid relatively shallow in the ground and the trenches are filled with excavated materials. As the drain trench acts like a sump and draws in ground water, the trench can erode over time leading to consolidation in the fill and movement of the adjacent ground towards the trench.