uying a property is a massive investment for anyone, probably the largest you will ever make. It is very easy to assume that the ground on which your soon-to-be or newly acquired property sits is completely solid. Unfortunately this is not the case as many properties throughout the UK are affected by geological hazards.
The Association of British Insurers estimates that geological hazards cost insurers £300 million in an average year and predicts a rise to £600 million by 2050.
Find out the potential risk to your property from geohazards by purchasing a greenlight report. Can you afford not to?
Geohazards are features in the underlying ground with the potential to damage a building or put it at risk. It is important for anyone looking to acquire a property for residential or commercial use to be aware if it is affected by any such risks. If you already own a property it is equally prudent to find out about potential geohazards so you can take any risk mitigation measures. .
The British Geological Survey of Great Britain has identified six key geohazards that are most likely to affect property and human infrastructure in the UK:
Landslide hazard
Landslides occur when certain slope characteristics such as geology, drainage and gradient to name a few, interact to make the sloping land unstable. Landslide movement of ground tends to be rapid and can cause considerable damage to property. The onset of climate change as a result of global warming is going to impact on the stability of slopes especially slopes which have already been landslides.
Shrinking and swelling clay hazard
Ground which comprises largely of clay is prone to changes in volume based on the amount of water absorbed. This swelling and contracting action can cause ground movement with foundations being particularly affected. Shrink and swelling clay affects one in five properties in England and Wales particularly in the south east of England where such damage has cost £3 billion in the last ten years.
Compressible ground hazard
When a property is built on ground containing soft materials such as clays it can potentially compress the ground leading to a depression which can result in foundations becoming unstable.
Soluble Rock hazard
Water coming into contact with certain rock types causes that rock to dissolve. Over time this can cause the development of underlying cavities which weaken the support to the ground above and any associated property. In a worst case scenario the ground can collapse into these cavities with obvious destruction to property and infrastructure.
Collapsible deposit hazard
Some kinds of rocks and soils may collapse when a load (such as a building or road traffic) is placed on them, especially when they become saturated. Such collapse may cause damage to overlying property or services.
Running Sand
Rocks which have a sandy layer inside them are prone to ‘running’. This is caused by water flowing between the grains causing the sand layer to become fluidised. This can lead to the removal of support to any buildings above.
The GreenLight report
Whether you are a home owner, property developer, surveyor or architect it is important to know if a property is affected by any of these geohazards. The GreenLight report provides information detailing potential risks as well as the likelihood of those risks affecting a property. It therefore enables you to make informed decisions about your investment.
