Three Key Things to look out for when viewing a property this homebuying season
August is a popular month to move as the summer holidays give families a window to relocate before term starts, while property experts say listings surge again in September as people race to get in somewhere new by Christmas.
But in the rush to move, some Brits are neglecting their property risk checks. A recent study found that a quarter of homeowners didn’t check whether a property was exposed to environmental or structural risks before exchanging contracts.
The same proportion don’t think their home is at risk of anything at all. The top concern, for less than one in five homeowners, is storm damage (15%), followed by theft (11%), leaks (8%), fire (8%), flooding (7%), and subsidence (4%).
Not every risk is obvious or even visible, but certain signs are worth looking out for when you view a property, especially as some can make home insurance harder to get.
Here are a few key things to check when viewing a property:
#1 Large cracks, and trees in the garden
Look out for any large cracks in the property, especially those that are diagonal, wider than 3mm, and visible inside and out, combined with sticking doors, as these can be classic signs of subsidence.
Large trees and bushes close to the property can signal a heightened risk of ground movement, as roots drawing moisture from the soil are one of the causes of subsidence. Those further away or in neighbouring gardens pose less immediate risk. But check whether any are under tree preservation orders (TPOs), which limit the maintenance you can do, and usually involve your local council’s permission if you want to cut back a tree under a TPO.
Within the survey, only 4% of respondents said subsidence is the biggest risk to their home in the future. Yet, the risk is very real, particularly for people living in the Greater London area, due to its shrinkable soil type known as ‘London Clay’. The long, hot summer of 2026 means this is something to be particularly mindful of – The Association of British Insurers has stated that the average claim for subsidence reached a record £20,000 in 2026.
Completed by just 18% of homeowners nationwide and 16% in high-risk Greater London, legal searches or a RICS Level 3 Building Survey should uncover any issues with subsidence, which, even if resolved by underpinning, can make insurance harder to get, particularly if it occurred in the last ten years.
#2 Proximity to water
How close a property is to water is worth weighing up, both for the flood risk and for the impact on your home insurance.
Many insurers ask detailed questions about proximity to water, and may decline a future claim if you didn’t disclose it when you took out your policy.
Only 7% of homeowners are concerned about flooding, despite the National Housing Federation revealing that eight in 10 homes are at high risk of flooding – a dramatic increase since 2018.
What’s more, new builds warrant extra attention, as new data shows one in nine new homes built in England between 2022 and 2024 are in areas that could now be at risk of flooding.
New builds constructed since 2009 are also excluded from Flood Re, the government-backed reinsurance scheme that makes flood cover more accessible.
People hunting in low-lying, river- or Fen-adjacent locations like Peterborough, Nottingham and Lincoln should be on high alert, as these are the areas at highest risk of flooding.
Whether it’s a new build or an older property, get ahead by checking flood risk yourself, either with your local authority (something just 16% of homeowners do) or an online postcode risk checker (just 11% said they did this).
A home in a higher flood-risk area may require specialist flood risk home insurance, so checking available providers by address on a price comparison site is a good way to see your options before committing to a purchase.
#3 Old electrical systems and exterior damage
Cast your eye over other details that might otherwise go unmissed but could put your home at higher risk of fire, such as older appliances, frayed wiring, and scorched or discoloured sockets or electrical boxes.
Damaged, cracked, or missing roof tiles are also a hazard, exposing your home to extreme heat, pests, debris and water ingress, which can cause short circuits and trigger an electrical fire.
Both are particularly important when viewing older properties that haven’t been updated for a while or those that have been left unoccupied previously.
Standard policies should cover most accidental fire damage, but gross negligence is likely to be excluded.
Only 8% of homeowners are worried about fire risks, yet for people living in areas near heathlands, such as Durham and Tunbridge Wells – which were identified as the highest fire-risk areas in Homeprotect’s study – it is a very real concern.
Though used by just 17% and 6% of homeowners, asking the estate agent about local risks and searching online news for fire hazards before exchanging can indicate your geographical exposure.
If you’re concerned about a home you’ve viewed, there are several home risk calculators available online which let you check a postcode for potential risks before signing on the dotted line – although it’s always best to take a thorough approach and consider the right kind of survey for the home you’re buying.