🇬🇧 UK

Do you need your own loss adjuster for subsidence?

Looking for US rules? → US money answers

GlobalPublished 6 October 2026 · Written by BuyMeWhiskey Editorial Team · How we check facts

Not automatically. Your insurer will usually have its own claims professionals, and you can often handle the claim yourself. An independent loss assessor may help when a subsidence claim is complex or disputed, but check the fee and exactly what the service covers before paying.

Next question: What can I do if someone keeps parking on my property? →

Use the Financial Ombudsman’s free guidance if your insurer is delaying or mishandling a subsidence claim.

See free subsidence-claim guidance

Run your own numbers: Mortgage repayment calculator.

Loss adjuster and loss assessor are not the same thing

The terminology causes confusion. A loss adjuster is normally appointed by the insurer to investigate and assess a claim. A loss assessor is someone a policyholder can appoint to help prepare and manage the claim. The commercial relationship matters: one works for the insurer, while the other is engaged by the claimant.

That means you should not assume you “need your own loss adjuster”. The real question is whether you would benefit from independent help with evidence, scope of works, negotiations or a dispute about the cause or value of the damage.

Why subsidence claims can become complicated

Subsidence is not simply a matter of repairing a crack. The investigation can involve monitoring movement, identifying the cause, distinguishing subsidence from other types of ground movement and deciding what repairs are appropriate.

The Financial Ombudsman says it receives complaints where insurers reject subsidence claims on the ground that another type of ground movement caused the damage, where claims take too long, where communication is poor, and where policyholders are unhappy with the quality of repairs or alternative accommodation.

When paying for an independent assessor may make sense

Large or complex claim: extensive structural repairs can involve multiple contractors, engineers and long timelines.
Disagreement about scope: the insurer may accept subsidence but disagree about which works are necessary.
Evidence-heavy claim: you may have specialist reports, monitoring data and estimates to organise.
Time pressure: if work, accommodation and family arrangements make claim administration difficult, an experienced representative can reduce the practical burden.
Communication problems: a representative can help create a clear written record of what is disputed.

None of these means you must hire one. They are reasons to consider whether the fee is buying something useful.

Check the fee before signing up

An independent claims professional may charge a percentage of the settlement, a fixed fee, an hourly rate or another structure. Ask for the calculation in writing. Find out whether the fee applies to the whole settlement, only additional money recovered, or particular stages of the claim.

Also ask whether VAT is included, whether there is a minimum fee, and what happens if the insurer rejects the claim. A percentage-based fee can become expensive on a large settlement even when the work involved is straightforward.

What about appointing your own structural engineer?

That is a separate decision. An engineer may provide technical evidence about cause, movement and repair options; an assessor or solicitor may help with the claim process. You do not necessarily need to hire all of them.

Start by asking the insurer what investigation it is carrying out, who is doing it and what the next milestone is. If you do not understand the report, paying for an independent technical opinion can be more targeted than immediately paying for full claims management.

What if a surveyor missed a problem when you bought the property?

A survey and an insurance claim are different issues. A buyer may have a potential complaint about a surveyor if the survey failed to meet the agreed scope and professional standard, while the insurer deals with the insured damage under the policy. You should not assume the insurer must cover a purchase mistake, or that the surveyor is automatically liable for later movement.

Keep the original survey, photographs, insurer reports and correspondence. Those documents help separate what was visible at purchase from damage that appeared or developed later.

What if the insurer is handling the claim badly?

Make a formal complaint to the insurer and clearly state what you want put right. The Financial Ombudsman says you should complain to the business first; if it does not send a final response within eight weeks or you are unhappy with the response, you can take an eligible complaint to the Ombudsman.

The Ombudsman service is free. That matters because it means you do not have to pay a claims professional just to obtain an external complaint route.

A sensible order of action

Notify the insurer and follow the claim instructions.
Keep a dated file of photographs, reports, invoices and communications.
Ask the insurer what is being investigated and why.
Get an independent technical opinion if the evidence is genuinely disputed.
Consider an assessor only after you understand the fee and the work they will actually do.
Use the insurer’s complaint process and the Financial Ombudsman route when appropriate.

The strongest reason to appoint your own professional is not simply that the claim is scary. It is that you can identify a specific gap - technical evidence, claim preparation, negotiation or administration - that the professional can fill.

Worked example

Illustrative fee comparison: assume a subsidence claim settles at an illustrative £80,000. A claims representative offers to work for an illustrative 8% of the settlement. Another option is an illustrative fixed fee of £3,000.

Percentage fee: £80,000 × 8% = £6,400.
Fixed fee: £3,000.
Illustrative difference: £6,400 − £3,000 = £3,400.

These are illustrative terms, not market quotes. The percentage option could still be worthwhile if it delivers substantial additional value or reduces a difficult negotiation, but you should compare like with like. Ask what happens if the claim is rejected, whether VAT is extra and exactly what services the fee covers.

The calculation does not establish which fee is fair. It shows why the charging method matters, particularly when the claim is large enough for a percentage fee to become much bigger than a fixed fee.

Do I need a loss adjuster for a subsidence claim?#

No. Your insurer will normally appoint its own loss adjuster or claims specialists. You can make the claim yourself, although an independent loss assessor may help when the claim is complex, disputed or difficult to administer. Ask for every fee and service term in writing.

What is the difference between a loss adjuster and loss assessor?#

A loss adjuster normally works for the insurer and assesses the claim. A loss assessor is appointed by the policyholder to help prepare and manage the claim. Understanding that difference is important before you pay anyone to represent you. Ask for every fee and service term in writing.

Should I pay a percentage of my subsidence payout to an assessor?#

Not without comparing the cost with the work you will receive. Percentage fees can become substantial on large claims. Ask for the fee calculation, minimum charges, VAT treatment and what happens if the insurer rejects the claim. Ask for every fee and service term in writing.

Can the Financial Ombudsman help with a subsidence dispute?#

Yes, eligible complaints about home-insurance subsidence claims can be taken to the Financial Ombudsman after you complain to the insurer. The Ombudsman says its service is free and can consider issues such as delay, rejected claims and repair standards. Ask for every fee and service term in writing.

What if my house survey missed subsidence?#

A survey issue and an insurance claim are separate questions. The insurer considers the policy and insured damage, while a surveyor complaint depends on the survey’s scope and whether the service met the required standard. Keep both sets of evidence.

Do I need my own structural engineer as well as an assessor?#

Not automatically. An engineer can provide independent technical evidence, while an assessor helps with claim administration and negotiation. Start by identifying the actual disagreement; paying for the specific expertise you need can be more efficient than hiring several professionals at once.

Keep reading

Next question →What can I do if someone keeps parking on my property?

Sources

Figures were checked against these sources before publication. If a rule changes, we update the page and show the new date.

General information, not personal financial advice. Rules depend on your circumstances; check the official source or speak to a regulated adviser before acting.