The Department of Energy Security and Net Zero said that all evacuated residents would now be protected by the law, with the UK government meeting the costs of making homes safe.
Under the Coal Mining Subsidence Act 1991, the UK government has a duty to remedy coal mining subsidence damage.
Shanks said the cost could run into tens of millions of pounds.
The UK energy minister told Scotland News: “What now has to happen is an individual assessment of individual properties.
“Some will be able to be remediated, and for people to move back in, and if that’s possible that will be their best outcome.
“But some will not and therefore there is a legal right for us to provide the value of that house before this incident occurred to families so that they can find their own accommodation elsewhere.”
He added: “As much as we would like to be able to resolve this tomorrow, the ground is still moving here, albeit more slowly.
“We will have to continue monitoring that, safety is our number one concern and we’ll move people back into whatever accommodation is possible as quickly as we can.”