Sinkhole Crisis Strikes Godstone Homeowners
When Sarah Lewis, 36, and her partner purchased their home in a new-build development in Godstone, Surrey, they envisioned a bright future. Little did they know that their investment would soon be overshadowed by the threat of a geological disaster.
On Monday evening, a massive sinkhole emerged on Godstone High Street, expanding to approximately 65ft (20m) in length by Tuesday afternoon. This unexpected event forced the Lewis family to abandon their home on William Way, located just off the main road. The following day, a second sinkhole appeared directly across from the first, compounding the crisis.
This alarming geological phenomenon prompted immediate action from authorities, leading to the shutdown of water services in nearby residences, the evacuation of around 30 households, and effectively rendering the Lewis family and others displaced without a home.
Surrey County Council has declared a major incident and is actively working to stabilize the situation, but residents remain in the dark about when they will be allowed to return. It could be months before normalcy is restored.
Ms. Lewis expressed her dismay, noting that she and her partner had planned to sell their house, which they had “worked really hard to buy” during the pandemic using the Government’s Help to Buy scheme, in five or six years after moving in back in 2020. Now, those plans seem uncertain at best.
“I’ve just been discussing with my partner what this could mean for our future plans to sell the house,” Ms. Lewis shared with The i Paper. “We never intended to stay here forever.” She fears that when they eventually return home, they may be forced to continue living in a property that is unlikely to attract buyers.
Property experts have indicated that homes in regions affected by sinkholes could become practically unmortgageable. Even if homeowners manage to sell, they may face a staggering drop in value ranging from 20-30%. New-build homes in the William Way development have been listed with an asking price of £550,000.
The prospect of delaying their plans or experiencing significant financial loss is disheartening for Ms. Lewis. “It’s really disappointing, especially for the kids. We wanted to sell and find a bigger garden for them to play in,” she lamented. “Now, we’ll have to make do with the garden we have, at least for the foreseeable future.”
The cause of the sinkholes remains under investigation, but experts suggest that a burst water main may have washed away weak sandstone bedrock, creating a void that ultimately collapsed. Andrew Farrant, regional geologist for the British Geological Society, explained, “It is probable that a burst water main has flushed out weak sandstone bedrock, creating a void which has then collapsed.”
The homes on William Way were built on the site of a former sand quarry, and some properties in the vicinity sit above a network of caves that were once used for sand mining. “None of this appeared in the surveys when we bought our house. The quarry was noted, but nothing about the caves was mentioned. If we had known, it would have definitely influenced our buying decision,” Ms. Lewis stated.
How a Sinkhole Could Impact Your Home’s Value
According to property and construction expert Natalie Mitchell from HomeHow.co.uk, the emergence of a major sinkhole can drastically decrease a property’s value. She noted, “Selling a property in an area affected by sinkholes can be very challenging, and in some cases, it might be impossible. If a sale is possible, the value will likely be reduced by at least 20-30% compared to the market value, and potentially much lower.”
“Typically, auctions become the go-to route for selling such properties, if they can be sold at all. Banks and building societies are often hesitant to lend on these homes due to the heightened risk, making cash buyers the most viable option,” she added.
Steve Anderson, Yopa’s national franchise director, shared his insights, stating, “It’s estimated that properties close to a sinkhole are impacted by a value decrease of 20-30%, which translates to over £80,000 based on the current average UK house price.” He emphasized that sinkholes can deter potential buyers and lead to significant subsidence-related issues affecting property value.
“Subsidence is perhaps the biggest red flag when it comes to purchasing a home, and even if a buyer is willing to take a risk, they may struggle to secure a mortgage,” he explained. “With respect to their existing mortgage, sinkhole incidents are generally classified as impacts of climate change, which many lenders now consider when evaluating mortgage or remortgage applications.”
While awaiting updates on when they can return home, the Lewis family is temporarily residing in an Airbnb. Ms. Lewis mentioned that she had to “strong-arm” her insurers to arrange this accommodation. Unfortunately, the conditions are far from ideal, as the property has issues with black mold. Additionally, the transition from a four-bedroom home to a two-bedroom space has led to a separation within the family, as they cannot accommodate her stepdaughter in their temporary living situation.
Ms. Lewis desires stability and a comfortable space for her entire family. However, before she feels secure enough to return home, she plans to commission an independent structural assessment. “We’ll probably have some engineers come out to evaluate the situation and conduct some surveys to ensure that the property will be safe for the long term before we commit to living there again,” she remarked.
Cath Bourg, a resident living just outside the cordoned-off area, expressed her concerns about the stability of her own home. She was among several locals who gathered at the St Nicholas Youth Centre on Thursday, seeking answers about the situation. Council staff were present to gather details from affected residents and direct them to housing support, but they could not provide a timeline for when residents would be allowed back home.
Ms. Bourg, who purchased her Victorian terrace home in 2017, stated that she was never informed of any stability issues regarding the land. Now, with the sinkholes emerging, she is left questioning the integrity of her own property. “We’re built over Godstone caves, which have existed for centuries. They used to mine them, and now people explore them. With caves beneath our houses, it raises concerns about the safety of the entire structure. They say it’s safe, but who really knows?”
Local residents have fond memories of the Godstone caves, a network that adventurous Scouts and explorers still navigate. One property on the corner of the high street is even named ‘The Caves.’
Ms. Bourg is apprehensive about how the sinkhole situation might affect her home’s value. “I was just chatting with my neighbors, and they expressed concerns about potential impacts on insurance. If people are hesitant to live near a site with a recent sinkhole, it could definitely affect sale prices,” she noted.
Harvey, a resident who has lived approximately 200 meters from the sinkhole for 15 years, also shared his thoughts. He recalled no stability issues being flagged during his property survey. While he isn’t particularly worried about his home falling into a sinkhole, he is concerned about how this situation could affect property values in the future. “Whether this will impact my ability to sell down the line, or if another hole appears and it affects mortgage availability — that’s my biggest concern,” he said.
The i Paper reached out to Riverdale Developments, the construction company responsible for the William Way homes, as well as Surrey County Council, for comments regarding the ongoing situation.
