How do I find out if my property has asbestos?

[nonplussed]

Morning all,

We've accepted an offer on our house, but the buyers now want to know if we have asbestos in the property. I have no idea, and the survey the buyer had done (expensively, I presume) didn't establish it either - the guy "couldn't tell", apparently.

Now the buyers are making it our responsibility to find out, which is fair enough I guess, but how on Earth do I do that? Get someone to come out and have a look? And if yes, what kind of someone would that be?

[mike325112]

From a legal point of veiw, you have to have an asbestos register in a business property but not a domestic house. You could get a type 1 (non idestructive) survey done, but this would only tell you what could be asbestos as no samples would be able to be taken.

I would question why they want to know, any house build before the 1987 will contain asbestos somewhere.

[rsstman]

if you set fire to the property the asbestos is the stuff that didnt burn.

[Mattygooner]

Make love to your wall cavities, if it doesn't burn you have asbestos, if it does burn, you have chlamydia.

[Tom_C76]

nonplussed said:

Morning all,

We've accepted an offer on our house, but the buyers now want to know if we have asbestos in the property. I have no idea, and the survey the buyer had done (expensively, I presume) didn't establish it either - the guy "couldn't tell", apparently.

Now the buyers are making it our responsibility to find out, which is fair enough I guess, but how on Earth do I do that? Get someone to come out and have a look? And if yes, what kind of someone would that be?

Dunno where in Bucks you are, but we use a company called M3 Associates from Luton for asbestos survey work. Not cheap to even do a type 1 survey though.

[Parrot of Doom]

They're being arses. Just tell them you don't know, and that they're quite free to have this checked out at their expense.

[zUgan]

I know that Contego Services (www.contegoservices.com) will be happy to help you. Email sent with contact details.

Edited by zUgan on Thursday 5th March 11:31

[tonyvid]

Parrot of Doom said:

They're being arses. Just tell them you don't know, and that they're quite free to have this checked out at their expense.

Just fill out the bit where you say you don't know, your solicitor should be able to advise you on this. If the Survey couldn't find it how are you supposed to? If there is asbestos and it isn't disturbed then it is no problem. Buyer beware and all that.

[Maxf]

Scratch and sniff... then wait 25 years

The majority of properties built before 1990 will have some form of asbestos - it really isn't an issue until it becomes damaged and breaks up. Tell them they are welcome to have a full asbestos survey done at their expense (including making good afterwards if invasive).

[Dogwatch]

This house (c.1956) certainly has asbestos, but it isn't the really nasty blue or brown asbestos its asbestos cement sheet used here for the garage roof and under the eaves. Left alone it's fine.

The asbestos disposal industry has managed to get the 'domestic' white asbestos included in the regulations as it suits their book to charge the same fees to remove the relatively (but not completely) harmless stuff as to remove the really nasty stuff used in power stations etc.

This site might be helpful. Wouldn't be surprised if the prospective purchasers have some in their property...

[nonplussed]

Thank for all for your great responses and PM's. Talked to the council as well who said that it'l likely have asbestos of some sort, as will all houses in the area. Will tell buyer this, and that we can recommend someone to carry out a survey, and that'll be that. Not much else we can do.

Thanks again, PH to the rescue as always!