In the wake of two unprecedented and hot summers in Britain, a worrying phenomenon is spreading; homeowners are confronted with deep and dangerous cracks in the walls of their homes. Henny Biggs, 49, from Stroud in Gloucestershire, speaks with concerned eyes about a difficult situation that may be familiar to many of us.
The Story of Henny Biggs
Henny and her husband noticed large cracks in the walls after purchasing a new home in June 2025. She says with concern: "We have one wall that has developed a large diagonal crack, so much so that we can look into the other room and easily fit our fingers in there. Pieces of plaster are continuously falling off." This situation clearly indicates the serious dangers posed by climate change and its impact on building structures.
Insurance Challenges
After observing this damage, Henny filed an insurance claim for damages caused by ground leakage. This claim was approved by her insurer, Admiral, in the spring of this year. However, there are also problems; regulatory devices to assess the damage were only installed a year after the claim was filed, and Henny still does not know when repairs will begin.
This situation has become a serious challenge not only for Henny but for many other homeowners in Britain. With rising temperatures and climate change, concerns about structural damage to homes have significantly increased. Is this just the beginning of a major crisis in the construction and insurance industries?
