The Impact (Blight) on House Value Caused by Urban Landslides in England and Wales

We examine how large, slow moving landslides impact urban house prices in three areas of England and Wales. 12,663 house transaction values were analysed covering all house sales 1995-2012 in Lyme Regis, Dorset; Ventnor, Isle of Wight and Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan. Values were analysed with respect to local landslide events and visible landslide damage. In all three study areas, individual landslide events caused little or no negative impacts on nearby property prices, though remediation is likely to have short-term positive impacts on local house prices. Localised blight and suppressed house prices to a distance of 75 m was found in areas alfected by ongoing incipient movement. By comparison with other sources of property blight, the radius of influence is 25% of that expected from an abandoned property or electricity pylon and less than 5% that of a windfarm. The socio-economic environment was important in determining the degree of house price impact of landslide events and for most locations, landslides form only a minor impact compared to other factors.