MORE and more people have been finding out that cracks in their house walls are caused by subsidence in the ground.

The results can be costly, as well as extremely disruptive to family life.

Peter Ellis, of Cameron Durley Consulting, says subsidence is an unwelcome problem that more home owners are increasingly finding they have to deal with. The reason is simple.

The majority of houses in London and the Home Counties have been built on massive belts of London clay.

Now is a good time to check that your house has escaped. Signs of subsidence include warped door and window frames, cracked driveways and uneven patio paving. Damaged drains are another classic indicator.

Of course, most buildings will experience a little cracking at some time, especially if it is a new building.

It is important to take precautions to protect your home from subsidence. Check the drains regularly to make sure that they are not leaking or blocked.

Keep an eye on existing cracks. If they begin to get a little bigger, or if a new crack appears in your house, particularly around the doors and windows, then you need to act immediately.

If you are worried that you may have spotted signs of subsidence, you will need to get some professional advice immediately.

The way to get the survey organised is to either contact your building insurance company, or consult an independent specialist subsidence engineer or surveyor. Either way, experts are better placed to assess the situation and risk to the building.