Imagine waking up one morning to discover you've gained a few metres of beach... or lost half your garden to the sea. It sounds like bad luck, but English property law has had an answer for this since Roman times. In this episode we're looking at three wonderfully obscure words, accretion, diluvion and avulsion.On the next stop of their coastal road trip, Richard and Lizzie explore one of the oldest and most unusual areas of property law: the legal consequences of a changing coastline.The principles of accretion, diluvion and avulsion date back to Roman law, yet they continue to determine ownership of coastal land and riverbeds today. Despite their importance, remarkably little modern case law exists, leaving lawyers to rely on legal principles that are centuries old. In this episode of ‘When Land Meets the Sea’, Richard and Lizzie explain how the law deals with land that nature quietly gives... and quietly takes away. They discuss:• What accretion, diluvion and avulsion actually mean (without the Latin headache)• Why ownership boundaries can move naturally over time• The legal difference between gradual erosion and a sudden landslide• How these principles apply to both coastlines and riverbeds• The case of Gifford v Lord Yarborough (1828) and why it still matters today• Who owns newly formed land created by natural processes• What happens when coastal erosion causes land to disappear As rising sea levels, coastal erosion and changing river systems become increasingly significant, these legal principles remain relevant. Whether you're a coastal landowner, developer, surveyor or simply fascinated by the law of the shoreline, this episode uncovers how nature can quietly redraw legal boundaries without anyone signing a document.‘When Land Meets the Sea’ is a podcast series exploring the legal, commercial and environmental issues shaping the future of Britain's coastal communities.Relevant cases:Gifford v Lord Yarborough (1828)Ramsbury Properties Ltd v Oceanview Construction Ltd [2024]Attorney-General of Southern Nigeria v. John Holt & Co. (Liverpool) Ltd. [1915]Southern Centre of Theosophy Inc v State of South Australia [1982]Lynn Shellfish Ltd v Loose [2016]Get in touch!Training & Free Webinars for Property Professionals:Would you like to keep up to date with the latest in real estate law? Davitt Jones Bould offers legal training tailored to your organisation’s needs, delivered in person across the UK or remotely. We also run free monthly webinars through for surveyors, solicitors, and property professionals across sectors. To sign up or learn more, visit our events page here or email [email protected] for information and booking. This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal or professional advice. No liability is accepted by Davitt Jones Bould for any reliance placed on its content. Get in touch!

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