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What to do if…
a basement or retaining wall is bulging and you fear it may fail

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Keep people away from the wall and from anywhere it could fall or push into. If collapse could happen soon, or anyone could be hit or trapped, call 999 from a safe place.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t go into a basement or cellar to inspect a wall that is bulging, bowing, moving, or making new cracking noises.
  • Don’t stand at the base of a retaining wall, on top of it, or beside the area it is holding back.
  • Don’t try DIY fixes such as timber props, car jacks, drilling holes, removing blocks, or knocking out bricks.
  • Don’t dig soil away from the base, remove a lot of soil behind the wall, or add heavy loads near the top.
  • Don’t keep using the affected room, path, drive, garden area, or basement if the wall is changing.
  • Don’t let children, visitors, or pets near the wall “just for a minute.”

What to do now

  1. Create a no-go zone. Move everyone out of the affected basement, cellar, room, path, drive, or garden area. Keep clear on both sides of the wall, including the top and base of a retaining wall.
  2. Call 999 if there is immediate danger. Do this if the wall is visibly moving, the bulge is getting worse quickly, you hear loud cracking or creaking, falling material is appearing, or people, a road, a footpath, a neighbour’s property, or utilities could be affected.
  3. Report the structure urgently to the local authority.
    • England and Wales: report a dangerous building or structure to your local council, usually Building Control.
    • Scotland: contact your local authority Building Standards service and report a dangerous building or structure.
    • Northern Ireland: contact your local council and report a dangerous or unstable structure.
  4. Reduce nearby load and vibration from a safe distance. Keep people off the floor above a bulging basement wall if you can do so safely. Do not move heavy items, run heavy machinery, slam doors, or drive close to the affected wall.
  5. Warn people who could enter the danger area. Tell neighbours, visitors, delivery drivers, or anyone using a shared path, drive, garden, or boundary area to stay clear.
  6. If there are gas danger signs, leave and call the right gas emergency number. If you smell gas, suspect a gas leak, or think a gas pipe may be affected, get away from the area. In England, Scotland and Wales call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. In Northern Ireland call the Northern Ireland Gas Emergency Service on 0800 002 001.
  7. If there are electricity danger signs, stay well back. For damaged electrical equipment, sparking, fallen lines, or affected poles, keep clear. In Great Britain call 105; in Northern Ireland call NIE Networks on 03457 643 643. If there is immediate danger to life, call 999.
  8. Record only from a safe place. Take a few photos or a short video from outside the likely fall zone. Note when you first noticed the bulge, whether it is changing, and any recent heavy rain, leaks, impact, digging, or new cracks.

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide now whether the cause is drainage, subsidence, poor workmanship, age, or soil movement.
  • You do not need to start repairs, get quotes, argue about fault, or move possessions from the danger area before it is safe.
  • You do not need to contact insurers before the immediate danger is controlled, unless you can do it without going near the wall.

Important reassurance

It is reasonable to treat a bulging basement or retaining wall as urgent even if you are not sure how serious it is. The safest first move is to create distance, stop people entering the risk zone, and get the right emergency or local authority help involved.

Scope note

These are first steps only. Later decisions about temporary works, evacuation, repair, insurance, ownership, or liability may need help from Building Control, the local authority, a structural engineer, your insurer, or another suitable specialist.

Important note

This is general safety information, not legal, insurance, engineering, emergency-services, or other professional advice. If collapse might be imminent or anyone is at risk, prioritise distance and emergency help.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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