Subsidence makes lenders and insurers nervous, but houses with subsidence sell every day - especially when the problem is documented and dealt with. This guide explains how to sell a house with subsidence in the UK in 2026: what you must disclose, how it affects mortgages and insurance, and the routes that get a sale done.
Disclose it - you have no choice
You must disclose known subsidence, and any past underpinning, on the TA6 Property Information Form. Concealing it invites a misrepresentation claim from the buyer long after completion. Honesty is also practical: buyers and surveyors will usually spot the signs anyway, and documented subsidence is far less alarming to them than unexplained cracks.
How it affects mortgages and insurance
Active subsidence can stop a mainstream mortgage until it is resolved, and it complicates buildings insurance - a property with a subsidence history may need specialist cover, and the buyer will want the existing insurer’s position to transfer. Resolving and documenting the problem is what reopens normal lending.
Your routes to sell
Three routes work. Remediate and document - complete any underpinning or repairs with a structural engineer’s certificate and an insurance-backed guarantee, which largely restores normal lending and value. Sell with full documentation to a buyer using a specialist lender. Or sell to a cash buyer or investor who prices the risk and completes fast, which suits sellers who do not want to fund repairs. Keep every report and certificate - see cash house buyers for the fast route.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to tell buyers about subsidence?
Yes. You must disclose known subsidence and any past underpinning on the TA6 Property Information Form. Failing to do so can lead to a misrepresentation claim after completion.
Can you get a mortgage on a house with subsidence?
Active subsidence usually blocks a mainstream mortgage until it is resolved. Once repairs are done and documented with an engineer’s certificate and guarantee, normal lending generally becomes available again.
How do I sell a house with subsidence quickly?
Sell to a cash buyer or investor who prices the structural risk and completes without a lender - typically in a few weeks - or sell at auction. You trade some price for speed and certainty.
Does subsidence have to be fixed before selling?
No. You can sell as-is to a cash buyer or at auction. Fixing and documenting it first widens your buyer pool to mortgage buyers and improves the price, if you have the time and budget.