Could the weather we have seen and enjoyed this summer be the upside of climate change? All those gloriously hot days, rows of beautifully-coloured roses in bloom for weeks, and reports of record-beating vintage harvests in English vineyards? It could well be, though as we know, there are downsides too.

It’s not just the pressure on water supplies in some parts of the country that have got experts worried. Insurance companies are preparing for a potential increase in claims for damage caused by subsidence. Yes, it’s all the fault of the hot summer …

During very dry periods, clay subsoils can come under stress as it loses water content. This causes movement within the soil, and if trees and shrubs nearby are also dragging the last drops of water out of the earth the effect can be dramatically increased.

The problems can be exacerbated by a dry winter following a dry summer as moisture content does not recover. Should there be a wet spell clay soils can swell and this may cause “heave”, the opposite of subsidence, and cracks can close as oppose to getting wider.

Mark Rimell of property specialists Strutt & Parker explains, ‘Where this happens foundations can be destabilised and cracks may start to appear in walls. Window frames might even begin to distort and the panes may break. Similarly door frames may go out of true and the door will begin sticking against the casing.

‘As a general rule these problems often occur first in porches, conservatories, garages and outbuildings; these sort of structures have shallower foundations than the main house and are therefore more susceptible to movement within the ground.’

As Mark Rimell who is based at Strutt & Parker’s London office, adds, ‘Do bear in mind that we are not talking about holes opening up and homes disappearing into them! Subsidence damage is often very slight and it is a very rare to see any serious damage to well-built, well-established houses. Having said that, it is something to guard against, and any home-owner would be well advised to seek advice from a qualified surveyor or engineer to investigate and monitor. Do not rush into taking corrective action that may make matters worse.

‘The tell-tale signs are cracks in brickwork. These can be very minor and no cause for concern at all, but if a gap opens up wide enough to put the edge of a coin in then it’s worth getting advice. It’s definitely worth taking action if doors and windows start sticking for no good reason.’

The one thing that every home-owner should do is to check their house insurance. Almost all policies will cover the owner for subsidence, but there might be exclusions in some parts of the country which are deemed to be at higher than average risk. It’s worth checking too what the excess – the amount of the claim which you have to pay before the insurance company chips in – is; it’s typically around £1,000.

What can be done to minimise the risk of subsidence though? The answer is ‘not a lot’, though what can be done relates to the garden rather than the house itself. As we’ve seen, large plants and trees can seriously destabilise the soil and they desperately suck water out of the ground in times of limited rainfall. The answer, unfortunately, is not to have shrubs and trees near to the house, and it’s not a good idea to have ivies and creepers growing up the outside of the property as their roots will be closer to the structure than anything else. This isn’t to say that everyone should rush out into the garden with a chain saw and a felling axe, but being aware of the possibility of a problem is a good start. Certainly if you are planning a new garden or just adding larger plants then keep them well away from buildings. Also, keep drains clear and check for leaks in your own water supply on a regular basis.