A Solution for Homeowners Faced with Coastal Erosion

[PatchGirl]

The chairman of the Environment Agency Lord Smith has unveiled a radical plan to help hundreds of homeowners threatened by coastal erosion.

The coastlines of Norfolk, Suffolk and Lincolnshire have been particularly vulnerable to the sea with many losing their homes without compensation.

Lord Smith has told BBC Look East local councils should buy up homes threatened by the sea and then lease them back. The homes would be bought at the original market value.

Lord Smith said the householder would "then lease it back so they could carry on living in it until such time as erosion actually takes the home away".

"They would have the capital to enable them to move and find somewhere else to live," he said.

It's a good idea in theory but for people who bought their house a long time ago the original market value won't buy much more than a garage today.

But if nothing else this story does sound a good reminder NOT to buy a house perched on a cliff by the sea..

[FoxTopper]

Originally Posted by PatchGirl

But if nothing else this story does sound a good reminder NOT to buy a house perched on a cliff by the sea..

True. Too bad though - a house by the sea is so picturesque.

[CrazyMoose]

My dad's mate bought a place in Cornwall for just under £400K during the height of the property boom. He's now been told that it's got less than 100 years before being washed away into the sea. I'm all for helping the people that are genuinely suffering as a result of coastal erosion, but i'm sorry to say that the 'investors' that spend thousands on these coastal properties should be left to paid for their mistakes.