Two cottages in the Norfolk hamlet of Newport, bought just months ago by a property investor and a woman planning for retirement, are at risk of falling into the sea, and Great Yarmouth Borough Council has advised the homeowners to leave.
Nathan Weissbraun, who owns about 20 rental properties, paid £60,000 in September for a three-bedroom cottage in Newport, part of a row of four terraced former fishermen's cottages. He said the price was £55,000 less than the previous owner paid in 2023. “It was below market value, so it was a good price. It's a lot of money we're going to lose and we're trying to fight our corner so it can stay,” he added. Weissbraun, who lives in Manchester, said the house was the “first and last” property he would consider buying in Norfolk, a county he said he had never visited.
Lynn Sweet, 64, bought a four-bedroom cottage and a two-bedroom annexe at auction in August for £145,000. She said it seemed an “ideal opportunity” and hoped to rent out the larger cottage to support herself during retirement. Eight weeks later, she was told the home was unsafe and would need to be demolished. Sweet said she was aware of the erosion dangers in Hemsby but thought she would have at least 10 to 20 years there.
The properties are among nine in the area deemed at risk of coastal erosion. Gemma Lomas, the fourth generation of her family to have lived in the Newport cottages, said learning the homes were at risk and now unsafe “came as a shock.” “In 2015, we were told we would have 100 years, last year this fell to 30 years, now we are being told it could be weeks. These homes have stood here for 200 years, they are an important part of Newport's maritime history,” she said.
The council said it was acting responsibly to ensure public safety. A spokesperson said: “Where property is at risk of collapse on to the beach, demolition needs to be carried out in a safe and manageable way. Analysis of the latest data and mapping shows nine properties are now within the 10m zone of risk and owners have been contacted and spoken with to encourage them to vacate in a timely way so any necessary action can be taken in a safe and planned way.”
Last winter, the dunes in Hemsby saw about 50% of the erosion predicted for the next 30 years, the council said, with more than 10m of land lost in over 12 months. Since December 2025, 41 properties have been demolished. There is currently no compensation scheme for people who have lost homes to erosion, but a trial scheme allows homeowners to relocate. Last year the Environment Agency gave £1.6m to Great Yarmouth Borough Council to buy planning rights from owners of properties at immediate risk, providing them with financial means and planning permission to relocate.
Auction House East Anglia said it recognised the distress being experienced by homeowners in Hemsby but said vendors were entitled to sell their properties. Director Bryan Baxter said: “We endeavour to ensure that relevant information about a property's condition, location and known risks is disclosed to prospective purchasers. Where coastal erosion is a factor, we make buyers aware that they should carry out their own research into any issues likely to affect the property or land.”
James Bensly, a Great Yarmouth First councillor representing East Flegg, said he “finds it very uncomfortable” to see properties advertised for sale when the “risk of them falling into the sea is so high.” “However, I also appreciate the sellers' point of view, and ultimately you cannot stop someone from putting a property on the market or another person from choosing to buy it,” he added.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Two homeowners face losing their life savings and retirement plans because they bought properties that became unsafe within weeks.
- The rapid acceleration of coastal erosion, with 50% of 30 years' predicted loss occurring in one winter, shows climate impacts are outpacing official forecasts.
- The lack of a compensation scheme leaves affected owners with no financial safety net, raising questions about property rights and climate risk disclosure.
Background
Coastal erosion has long affected the Norfolk coast, particularly around Hemsby. The area's soft cliffs and dunes are vulnerable to storm surges and rising sea levels. Great Yarmouth Borough Council has been managing a slow retreat, but recent winters have brought much faster erosion than predicted. A council-led scheme, using £1.6m from the Environment Agency, buys planning rights from owners of at-risk properties to enable relocation, but does not compensate for the lost property value.
Key Perspectives
Nathan Weissbraun (property investor): Paid £60,000 for a cottage in September, now faces losing it; said “it's a lot of money we're going to lose and we're trying to fight our corner so it can stay.”
Lynn Sweet (retirement buyer): Bought in August for £145,000; eight weeks later told the home was unsafe; she thought she had 10–20 years.
Gemma Lomas (long-term resident): Said the erosion timeline collapsed from 100 years in 2015 to “weeks” now; called the cottages an important part of Newport's maritime history.
Great Yarmouth Borough Council: Said it is acting responsibly to ensure public safety, with nine properties within the 10m risk zone; encouraged owners to vacate in a timely way.
Auction House East Anglia: Said vendors are entitled to sell; it ensures relevant information is disclosed and advises buyers to do their own research.
James Bensly (councillor): Said it is “very uncomfortable” to see such properties sold, but acknowledged sellers' rights and buyers' responsibility to research.
What to Watch
- Whether the council issues demolition orders for the nine properties, and how quickly.
- Any legal challenge or campaign by homeowners seeking more evidence or a pause.
- Further updates from the Environment Agency on coastal erosion funding and the relocation trial scheme.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedBeach homes face demolition months after being sold.BBC News: “A property investor and a woman planning for their retirement have been told their homes are at risk of falling into the sea just months after they purchased them.”
- SupportedTwo properties bought within the last three months are among nine deemed at risk of coastal erosion at Newport, near Hemsby.BBC News: “The houses, which were both bought in the last three months, are among nine properties in the area deemed to be at risk of coastal erosion.”
- SupportedGreat Yarmouth Borough Council advised the homeowners to leave their properties for their own safety.BBC News: “Great Yarmouth Borough Council has advised the homeowners to leave their properties for their own safety.”
- SupportedNathan Weissbraun paid £60,000 in September for a three-bedroom house in Newport.BBC News: “Nathan Weissbraun, who lives in Manchester, paid £60,000 in September for his three-bed house in Newport”
- SupportedWeissbraun owns about 20 rental properties and paid £55,000 less than the previous owner paid in 2023.BBC News: “Weissbraun, who owns about 20 rental properties, said he paid £55,000 less than the previous owner did when they bought the house in 2023.”
- SupportedWeissbraun said the house was the “first and last” property he would consider buying in Norfolk, a county he said he had never visited.BBC News: “He said the house was the "first and last" property he would consider buying in Norfolk - a county he said he had never visited.”
- SupportedLynn Sweet, 64, bought a four-bedroom cottage and a two-bedroom annexe at auction in August for £145,000.BBC News: “Lynn Sweet, 64, bought a four-bed cottage and two-bed annexe in Newport in August at auction for £145,000.”
- SupportedSweet was told eight weeks after buying the home that it was unsafe and would need to be demolished.BBC News: “Eight weeks later, she was told the home was unsafe and would need to be demolished.”
- SupportedSweet said she thought she would have at least 10 to 20 years there, despite being aware of erosion dangers in Hemsby.BBC News: “Sweet said she was aware of the erosion dangers in Hemsby, but thought she would have at least 10 to 20 years there.”
- SupportedGemma Lomas said learning the homes were at risk and now unsafe “came as a shock.”BBC News: “Gemma Lomas, who is the fourth generation of her family to have lived in the Newport cottages, said learning the homes were at risk and now unsafe "came as a shock".”
- SupportedThe council said nine properties are within the 10m zone of risk and owners had been contacted and encouraged to leave in a timely way.BBC News: “Analysis of the latest data and mapping shows nine properties are now within the 10m zone of risk and owners have been contacted and spoken with to encourage them to vacate in a timely way”
- SupportedThe council said Hemsby’s dunes lost more than 10m of land in over 12 months, about 50% of the erosion predicted for the next 30 years.BBC News: “Last winter, the dunes in Hemsby saw about 50% of the erosion predicted for the next 30 years, the council said, with more than 10m of land lost in over 12 months.”