![\"Repairing](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/SEI_310148411-201d.jpg\")
\n\t\tHave you noticed cracks appearing in your home? (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tHave you noticed cracks appearing in your home? (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Over the last few months, the UK has experienced record-breaking temperatures and more heatwaves<\/a> than any of us thought possible.<\/p>\n And while we\u2019re finally through the worst of it and have had some much-needed rain<\/a>, the warm weather is expected to make a bit of a comeback in September, with some \u2018above average\u2019 spells predicted <\/a>by the Met Office.<\/p>\n The hot weather <\/a>has impacted our daily lives in various ways, from hosepipe bans<\/a> and issues with medications<\/a> to negative mental health <\/a>ramifications. <\/p>\n And it\u2019s also wreaked havoc on many people\u2019s homes, it seems.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t If you\u2019ve started noticing cracks appearing all over your home<\/a>, you\u2019re not alone.<\/p>\n Numerous Brits have taken to Reddit<\/a> to share snaps of cracks in varying lengths and sizes appearing along the tops of walls, ceilings, floors and around windows, with some also spotting exterior cracks in brickwork.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tReady to start your homebuying journey?\t\t\t<\/p>\n You can access completely fee-free mortgage advice with London & Country (L&C) Mortgages, a partner of Metro. Customers benefit from:<\/p>\n \u2013 Award winning service from the UK\u2019s leading mortgage broker<\/p>\n \u2013 Expert advisors on hand 7 days a week<\/p>\n \u2013 Access to 1000s of mortgage deals from across the market<\/p>\n Unlike many mortgage brokers, L&C won\u2019t charge you a fee for their advice.<\/p>\n Find out how much you could borrow online<\/a><\/p>\n Mortgage service provided by London & Country Mortgages (L&C), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (registered number: 143002). The FCA does not regulate most Buy to Let mortgages. Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.<\/p>\n The issue has been especially prevalent amongst Londoners and those living in older houses, such as Victorian and Edwardian properties.<\/p>\n Some seem unconcerned by the changes to their house, while others have been left \u2018panicking\u2019 and feeling \u2018scared\u2019 and \u2018unsafe\u2019<\/a>, unsure if the cracks signal a more serious problem, such as subsidence.<\/p>\n What is subsidence?<\/p>\n \t\t The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors<\/a> (RICS) defines subsidence as the \u2018downward movement of the foundations of a building due to changes in the supporting strata\u2019.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tAsk Metro<\/p>\n Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about \u2013 powered by Metro and trusted publications.<\/p>\n There are several situations which cause it to happen, including heatwaves. This is because some houses are built on \u2018shrinkable soil\u2019 such as clay, and during periods of high heat, all the moisture is lost from the soil, and the clay shrinks, causing the foundations to drop. This in turn can cause structural damage to buildings.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018Different types of clay shrink and swell at different rates,\u2019 RICS adds.\u00a0<\/p>\n Subsidence can also be caused by trees near homes, as the roots can absorb all the moisture from the soil and cause it to shrink.<\/p>\n As well as causing structural damage to a home, subsidence can also devalue a property by as much as 20 to 25 per cent.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t In most subsidence cases, the first signs of subsidence are visible cracks in one area of the house.\u00a0<\/p>\n But just because you see a crack in a wall doesn\u2019t mean you need to panic, though, as these can just be cosmetic flaws. Buildings do naturally move over time, and materials respond to changes in temperature and moisture.\u00a0<\/p>\n The experts at RICS claim there\u2019s \u2018rarely any cause for real concern\u2019 unless cracks appear suddenly and are more than 3mm wide (thicker than a 10p coin).<\/p>\n Working out if a crack is a problem can take time, and you should keep an eye on any that do appear in the plasterwork or brickwork and monitor and measure them for at least 12 months, to see if they are expanding. <\/p>\n Other potential signs of subsidence to look out for include new or expanding cracks in outside brickwork, doors and windows sticking for no apparent reason, ripping wallpaper, and new sloping or dipping of solid ground floors.<\/p>\n If you have any of these issues but can\u2019t find the cause, you should seek specialist help as soon as possible, as the process of fixing subsidence can take years; so the sooner it is diagnosed, the better.\u00a0<\/p>\n What\u2019s happening to homes in London?<\/p>\n Those in the Southeast of England have reportedly been facing historic levels of subsidence after five heatwaves throughout the summer<\/a>.<\/p>\n London<\/a> is particularly impacted given that about 80 per cent of the city sits on clay, and those most at risk are Victorian and Edwardian homes, built directly onto the upper layers of clay.<\/p>\n Insurance claims linked to subsidence hit a record number last quarter, according to data from the Association of British Insurers (ABI), with households claiming, on average, \u00a320,000 for the risk.<\/p>\n And experts have warned that this is likely to become the \u2018new norm\u2019 thanks to climate change.<\/p>\n Laura Hughes, the head of general insurance at the ABI, told The Telegraph<\/a>: \u2018We expect to see more subsidence cases because of the hot weather.\u2019<\/p>\n Similarly, Otso Lahtinen, chief executive of Geobear, a ground engineering specialist company, told Bloomberg:<\/a> \u2018It\u2019s crazy, what\u2019s happening now. It\u2019s the new norm, and it seems it will happen more often in the next 20-30 years.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tHave you noticed cracks appearing in your home since the heatwaves?<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tSign up to Metro\u2019s The Key newsletter for must-read property stories, DIY hacks and tips for buying a home.<\/p>\n What to do if you think you have signs of subsidence<\/p>\n If you are concerned about your property, you\u2019ll want to start taking certain steps. As previously mentioned, keeping an eye on cracks, measuring them and taking photos is useful.<\/p>\n You should also contact your home insurer as soon as possible, and they\u2019ll help arrange for a structural surveyor to assess the property.<\/p>\n Do not fill in any cracks or redecorate before the property has been looked at by a professional.<\/p>\n If you do have subsidence, it can often be rectified, but this can take up to two years. Experts will help to stop the movement and stabilise the foundations of the property. Depending on the severity of the structural damage, the methods of stabilising can vary, and the cost will also vary greatly.<\/p>\n Do you have a story you\u2019d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"New](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/SEI_138171143-4982.jpg\")
\n\t\tSome cracks will be superficial, others will be a sign of something more serious (Picture: Getty Images\/iStockphoto)<\/p>\n![\"Period](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/SEI_42872092-4a1f.jpg\")
\n\t\tPeriod properties are most at risk of subsidence (Photo by Xavier de Canto\/Construction Photography\/Avalon\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Crack](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/SEI_310148511-d7a6.jpg\")
\n\t\tMonitor and measure any cracks that appear, and seek professional advice if they are more than 3mm wide (Picture: Getty Images\/iStockphoto)
\nHow do you know if it\u2019s subsidence or just cosmetic?<\/p>\n
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