London homes are cracking, sinking: How extreme heat is damaging properties in UK capital

Cracks appearing across walls, doors suddenly refusing to close and windows becoming difficult to open are emerging as a new concern for homeowners in London after an unusually hot and dry summer. The problem is linked to subsidence, as heat and prolonged dry conditions cause the clay-rich soil beneath homes to shrink and shift.London and parts of southeast England are particularly vulnerable because much of the region is built on clay. When the soil is wet, clay absorbs water and expands. During hot, dry periods, it loses moisture and contracts. If this movement happens unevenly beneath a building, its foundations can shift, causing cracks and other structural problems.The process is known as “shrink-swell”.