Collaboration between Groundsure and Coastal Partnership East kicks off national drive for better consumer advice.

Groundsure, the UK’s environmental and climate insights authority for property transactions, has today announced the launch of CoastClear – a consumer awareness website, designed to provide homebuyers, households and conveyancing solicitors with essential information on the potential impact of coastal erosion on communities and businesses.

The site (www.coastclear.co.uk) outlines the scale of the risk, what to do as a homeowner who may already be in an area of erosion risk, including the role of councils and first responders in an emergency. For homebuyers, there is a handy postcode checker to verify if a property of interest could be affected by coastal erosion, as well as advice on what to discuss with their conveyancing solicitor about the issue. 

CoastClear has been designed as an evolving national information hub, initially launching together with Coastal Partnership East. They are one of a group of Risk Management Authorities responsible for coastal management and have a role to play in handling coastal erosion incidents. 

Commenting on the launch, David Kempster, Chief Customer Officer at Groundsure said:

“Coastal erosion is one of the three main physical risks that will impact property asset valuations and the ability to get insurance and mortgages into the future. According to our ClimateIndex™ modelling, some 42,000 properties are at risk from coastal erosion by 2050. While this number may not be as significant as, say, flooding, we are talking about a total loss of value, as the house succumbs to the sea when the cliff collapses.

It is easy to buy a house on the coast with your heart rather than your head. CoastClear will, in time, combine advice with access to partners, law firms, tools and resources in those areas most affected by coastal erosion. It’s important to pause and go into these transactions with eyes open. Conveyancers are already familiar with signposting climate risks, including coastal erosion, but homebuyers need better understanding to avoid costly mistakes.”

Charles Krolik-Root, Coastal Manager at Coastal Partnership East said: 

“Climate change represents a major challenge for coastal communities which is heightened with climate change and as sea levels rise. The impact of storms and tidal surges continues to change our coastal landscapes and communities. 

CoastClear is an important initiative which we are championing with the other Coastal Partnership agencies nationwide. While the East Anglian coast is eroding more rapidly perhaps than anywhere else in the country, there is an urgent need for better communication on the risks. We are delighted to be working with Groundsure to ensure homebuyers know how to get access to the right data on the property they are interested in. Affected communities also need to understand our vital management role and what steps need to be taken to accommodate the risks now and into the future.”

Conveyancers are welcome to join the scheme at no cost as participating firms that identify coastal erosion alongside other climate risks as part of their standard due diligence and client care. Through the roll out of the campaign nationwide, law firms can connect with homebuyers concerned about the issue as they search for properties along the coast. 

Groundsure will also be offering a range of training and webinar sessions on coastal erosion and the CoastClear awareness programme for conveyancers and their clients in the coming months, with the first one taking place on 3rd December. More details can be found here.