Sink holes and subsidence on the rise

There is a continued threat of sink holes and subsidence after heavy rainfall in the UK, according to Searches UK.

 The search company says it is increasingly important for home buyers to identify these types of problems to avoid costly repairs to their property.

Problems of this nature have been reported since the beginning of the year and looking back at historical data it is evident that cases of subsidence in the UK have increased. In 2012, seven cases of subsidence were reported, in 2013 this figure increased to 17 occurrences of subsidence and in 2014 there were 13 cases alone in the first two months of the year.

The most recent reports of subsidence are from Walton in Surrey when a motorist was caught in a giant sink hole in rush hour at the beginning of October. Later the same month, in North Walsham in Norfolk, a homeowner discovered large holes in his back garden due to a sewer collapse which caused the earth to subside.

Sink holes, commonly referred to as subsidence, occur when a layer of rock underground is dissolved. They are common in areas underlain by chalk, limestone, gypsum and salt and can vary widely in size and depth. In some instances subsidence can originate from a ground collapse over man-made voids in the ground such as mine works. These are commonly referred to as ‘crown holes’.

Managing director of Searches UK Andrew Stenning says subsidence can be an extremely expensive problem to rectify.

“However by ordering one of our reports home buyers can identify any risk to their property and make an informed decision about whether or not to continue with the transaction to avoid any potential costly repairs.

“Searches UK will continue to provide informative reports to suit the needs of home buyers and there are regular enhancements to existing reports. We also work very closely with experts in the field to provide our clients with reliable and accurate information.”