Figures by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors show that sinkholes are on the rise. In fact it was only last year that a sinkhole opened up in a driveway in High Wycombe, swallowing the occupant’s car whole, while it sat in front of the house.
Sinkholes are caused by soluble rocks in the ground dissolving and are extremely dangerous, not least because of the potential danger of individuals falling into them and suffering serious injury or worse, but also because of the level of damage they can cause a property.
Buildings insurance policies may cover sinkholes; however quite often this is limited to the building itself and not necessarily surrounding areas such as a pathway or garden. Therefore if you find a sinkhole opening up in your garden while your house remains intact, your relief could soon turn to despair if you are not covered.
It is vital when buying a property that the stability of the ground itself is assessed in order to ascertain whether or not the property has a propensity for sinkholes. Such information could be key when deciding whether or not to go ahead with a purchase.
If you are thinking of purchasing a property, contact our team of attentive conveyancers who will undertake thorough checks to ensure your purchase goes smoothly. Pop into our offices at Windsor Crown House, 7 Windsor Road, Slough, SL1 2DX or give us a call today on 01753 486 777.