The Chartered Insurance Institute’s newly formed Society of Underwriting Professionals (SOUP) has published a good practice guide focussed on subsidence.

In the six-page resource, SOUP outlined the four actions that underwriters should be taking when dealing with subsidence cover. These are treating each policy wording individually; recognising other potential causes of damage; thoroughly assessing whether underpinning could be required; and identifying how previous claimants could receive cover.

“With temperatures rising in the UK, more hot summers are expected,” said SOUP non-executive director Philip Williams (pictured). “This will have an impact on more properties being hit by subsidence as well as impact existing claimants.

“There will be a greater need to investigate and action cases of subsidence, as well as preventing subsidence from reoccurring. We hope this good practice guide will ensure underwriters and claims professionals feel better equipped to do that.”

Meanwhile the guide also highlights other materials on subsidence that the society believes underwriters and claims professionals should know about.