Will a fixed subsidence problem impact on a future sale?

Q We are considering buying a house which suffers from subsidence, and having it underpinned to rectify the problem. However, we are wondering whether this will cause us problems when we come to resell. Will potential buyers be put off by the fact that the house has had a problem in the past? SR A It is insurers that are most put off by subsidence, and if you cannot get buildings insurance you won't be able to get a mortgage. So that might put off potential buyers. However, if you are planning to pay for work to address the subsidence yourself, rather than claiming on an insurance policy, you may not face that problem. Once subsidence has been fixed, it rarely recurs – especially after underpinning. So remedial work should make the property more insurable rather than less. However, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors says that fewer than 10% of subsidence cases require underpinning and that most incidences can be cured by the removal of a nearby tree. So I would suggest you get an expert view of what is required to fix the problem before you go ahead with work that could cost as much as £50,000.