Domestic Surveys

Asbestos building products were used extensively in houses and apartment blocks throughout the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, and finally banned in 1999, although the more serious blue and brown asbestos were banned in 1985.

Generally speaking, Asbestos is often best left alone, but it does depend on the type and position of the asbestos. Cutting, drilling and sanding some asbestos is particularly dangerous and must be avoided.

Problems often occur when doing “DIY” jobs, or when contractors are working in the house; or sometimes due to the position of the asbestos (an example would be Asbestos panelling on a constantly opening door, which could become vulnerable to damage).

How does it affect house purchase?

There is currently no statutory requirement to remove asbestos from a domestic building and no current regulation to control asbestos within them. However, the presence of asbestos can have a negative effect on the value of the property.

Commercial buildings are covered under the Control of Asbestos at Work Act Regulations of 2006.

If you are buying

You will need to know what type of asbestos is in the house, where it is, what condition it is in and what to do about it.

The cost of any potential removal is also a consideration as this can form part of the negotiation and if necessary be removed prior to moving in.

Remember, you and your family may be living in this house for some time and asbestos legislation is quite likely to tighten in the future.

If you are selling

You will also need to know what type of asbestos is in the house, where it is, what condition it is in and the cost of removal.

You can then make a decision as to whether to remove it prior to the sale or to consider discounting the price if required.


Apartment blocks

The common areas (Corridors, Stairwells, Lifts, Basements, and Car Park etc.) are the responsibility of the management company who should be able to provide an Asbestos Management Report. Individual apartments are treated in the same way as houses.

Some asbestos products are well known (like the roof sheeting shown in the pictures below), others not so well.

Examples of asbestos-containing materials

Indoors:

Artex ceilings
Boiler flues
Ceiling tiles
Asbestos insulating board (used as a fire break)
Floor tiles
Gaskets
WC cisterns
Fire doors
Bitumen products on sinks
Bath side panels
Partitions

Outdoors:

Soffits
Drainpipes
Gutters
Facing boards
Roof tiles
Damp course


Please do contact us to discuss how we can help with surveying domestic properties for the prescence of asbestos. You may also be interested to see some examples of domestic premises that we've previously surveyed.