Asbestos in good condition is not a hazard. It’s not dangerous unless it becomes damaged.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was commonly used in building materials from the 1930s to the 1980s.
Left undisturbed it doesn’t cause any problems. However, damaging materials that contain asbestos by sanding, drilling, sawing or scrubbing it can release dangerous fibres into the air. These can penetrate the lungs and cause disease.
Asbestos was banned as a building material in 1999, but if your home was built or refurbished between the 1930s and 1980s, it may be present in:
- airbricks and flue pipes
- bath panels, decorative coating (such as Artex) and fire surrounds
- corrugated cement sheeting on sheds and garages
- guttering and downpipes
- insulating materials on boilers, pipes and water tanks
- internal partitions and airing cupboard linings
- soffit boards and roof tiles
- fuse boards and storage heaters.
We have a programme to identify and inspect where asbestos has been used.
If the materials are in good condition, we’ll leave them and continue to carry out regular checks.
But, if they’re damaged, we’ll arrange for a specialist contractor to repair, seal or remove the asbestos-containing materials. If this is required, it’s important that you allow the asbestos contractor access to your home to carry out a survey and any remedial work.
If you want to carry out any home improvements and are concerned that you may disturb asbestos, please contact us. We'll advise on how to minimise exposure to your household and whoever carries out the work.
If you make any improvements without our prior written approval, you will be liable for the costs of dealing with any asbestos safety work.