Two hot and unprecedented summers in England have caused serious problems for homeowners. Henny Biggs, 49, from Stroud in Gloucestershire, speaks with concern about the deep and terrifying cracks in her house walls. She says, “We have a wall that has a large diagonal crack in it, and we can easily look into the other room; you can easily put your fingers in there, and pieces of plaster are falling off.”
Increase in Insurance Claims
Henny and her partner noticed these cracks immediately after buying their home in June 2025 and filed an insurance claim for damage caused by subsidence with their insurance company, Admiral. This claim was accepted in the spring of this year, but the installation of monitoring devices was only recently completed, about a year after the claim was filed. Henny Biggs, despairing about her home's current situation, said, “We have no idea when the repairs will begin.”
Environmental Risks and Pressure on Homeowners
This situation is concerning not only for Henny Biggs but for many other homeowners in England. With rising global temperatures and climate change, the likelihood of such problems occurring in the future increases. Homeowners are currently facing serious challenges, and the fear of high repair costs and issues arising from damage to their properties has put them under significant pressure.
This crisis seems to affect not only people's daily lives but could also impact the insurance market and property values. Given the changing weather conditions, homeowners must carefully monitor the condition of their homes and take action at the first sign of damage.
