Weather-related property insurance claims reached £1.2 billion in 2025, while domestic subsidence payouts hit a record £307 million, underlining the growing financial impact of property risk across Britain. A home in Shropshire, London or on the Yorkshire coast can come with very different risks before a buyer even reaches exchange, from flooding and subsidence to coastal erosion and ground movement. Around 6.3 million homes and businesses in England are already in areas at risk of flooding, with the Environment Agency expecting that figure to rise to around eight million by the middle of the century.
In order to address this, Moving Compared has launched Disaster Britain, a regional guide highlighting some of the property risks buyers should investigate before purchasing, alongside its service matching movers with local RICS surveyors experienced in properties like theirs. Moving Compared already matches buyers with surveyors based on their location and property requirements.
Wetland Britain: Shropshire’s 57 Flood-Risk Areas
Shropshire Council has identified 57 flood-risk areas considered locally significant, giving buyers in the county a clear reason to investigate flooding before committing to a home. The individual property still matters more than the county headline. Buyers can check long-term flood risk before making an offer, while searches can provide further environmental information once a purchase progresses. A local RICS surveyor can then assess the physical condition of the property and flag anything requiring further investigation. Moving Compared’s flood-risk buying guide also explains the role of searches, surveys and insurance when purchasing in a flood-risk area.
Lopsided London: When The Ground Beneath The Capital Starts Moving
London and the South East face a very different threat beneath their homes. British Geological Survey data shows shrink-swell risk is concentrated particularly in the South East of Britain, where clay soils can expand and contract as moisture levels change.
Recent BGS research identifies highly populated parts of London, particularly northern and central boroughs, alongside Kent as among the areas most susceptible to climate-related shrink-swell subsidence. Cracks do not automatically mean a home has active subsidence, but visible movement can warrant closer investigation. A local property surveyor familiar with London and South East housing can assess the building and recommend specialist advice where necessary.
Yorkshire’s Vanishing Coast: Where Cliffs Can Retreat By Metres
Parts of the East Riding coastline are eroding at average rates of up to 4.5 metres a year, while individual cliff-loss events of 20 metres or more can occur in undefended locations. Holderness is also identified by East Riding Council as experiencing one of north-west Europe’s fastest average rates of coastal erosion.
For somebody buying close to the coast, that makes the surrounding land as relevant as the condition of the building itself. Local erosion rates, shoreline policy and the property’s position should all be investigated alongside the usual structural checks. Buyers considering homes in the area can compare RICS surveyors experienced in local properties, helping them understand the condition of the individual building before proceeding.
Norfolk’s Moving Address: When The Coast Redraws The Property Map
North Norfolk is another part of England where coastal movement needs to form part of the buying decision. Updated coastal modelling allows buyers to see projected erosion risk to 2055 and 2105, while the district is already planning for communities affected by ongoing coastal change.
The issue is not theoretical. North Norfolk District Council confirmed in April that three properties and a former office building in Happisburgh were being demolished in response to coastal erosion. A local RICS surveyor can assess the condition of the individual property, while environmental searches and coastal-risk information provide the wider picture around its location.
Postcode Lottery: Why Two Neighbouring Homes Can Carry Very Different Risks
Disaster Britain is designed to give buyers a starting point rather than label entire regions as unsafe. Property age, construction, foundations, previous alterations, drainage and exact position can all change the significance of a regional hazard.
BGS itself assesses subsidence risk using factors including geology, nearby trees, building age, drainage, number of storeys and property type, demonstrating why two homes in the same area can present different risks. Moving Compared’s surveying service matches buyers with local RICS surveyors familiar with their property type and location. The regional data tells buyers what questions may be worth asking; the survey, searches and history of the individual home help establish what they are actually buying.
