Investment works

We have some important information about the potential for asbestos containing materials being present in your home. Please take the time to read the information below to help you understand why they may be present, how we manage asbestos within our properties and what your responsibilities are.

What is asbestos?

Asbestos is a natural (silicate) mineral found in rock. It was crushed and added to building materials because of its characteristics of being strong, flexible and its resistance to chemicals and heat. The popular terms of asbestos are white, brown and blue asbestos. You cannot tell if a material contains asbestos just by looking at it. Often the material asbestos is added to, disguises the asbestos fibres and the only way to confirm it contains asbestos is by testing the material in a specialist laboratory. Asbestos was widely used in the building industry so if your property was built or refurbished prior to 2000, it is possible it may contain some form of asbestos-containing material. Generally, asbestos is safe if it is not disturbed, as it cannot release fibres into the air. Activities such as drilling, cutting, sanding and scraping could result in asbestos fibres being released. If these fibres are inhaled then there could damage your health.

Where might you find asbestos in your home?

Asbestos was added to many different types of building materials and products over the years. The list below shows some possible locations but should not be considered as an exhaustive list:

Internal

Water tanks
Textured decorative coating (eg Artex)
Bath panel
WC seat and cistern
Panels behind fuse box
Linings to heater cupboard
Lining around boiler
Floor tiles
Linings behind fire
External
Gutters and rain water pipes
Soffit boards
Exterior window panels
Roof coverings
Outhouse or garage walls
Canopy soffits

Asbestos Do's and Don'ts

Do treat asbestos with respect.
Do not panic – if left undisturbed asbestos is safe.
Do contact us if you think you have damaged asbestos in your home.
Do not attempt to remove any suspected asbestos materials yourself.
Do contact us if you are planning any DIY or improvements to your home.
Do not put yourself at risk by carrying out DIY on or next to asbestos materials, for example cutting, drilling or sanding.
Do help us by keeping any appointments we, or our asbestos surveyors / contractors make with you.
Do not ignore any advice we give you.
Do take caution to avoid damaging asbestos materials.
Do not dust, sweep or vacuum areas where asbestos debris may lie.

Frequently asked questions

If there is asbestos in my home, why not remove it? Am I not at risk?

When asbestos surveys are carried out, not only do they confirm whether or not materials contain asbestos, they also confirm their condition. Asbestos-containing materials in good condition do not pose a risk to your health and sometimes removing it can be more hazardous than simply leaving it alone. If the material is in a poor condition, then the decision will be made to either remove it or make it safe.

I think I may have damaged or disturbed asbestos-containing materials in my home – what should I do?

Do not panic, contact us on 0345 2000 102 and we will make arrangements to have the material assessed and sampled if required. We will then decide on the most appropriate course of action to ensure your safety.

I’ve heard that Artex contains asbestos. What is it and is it safe?

Artex is a textured decorative coating that was widely used on interior walls and ceilings. Some older types of artex contained a very small amount of asbestos. Artex is safe as long as it is not disturbed i.e. sanded or scraped. 

Can I paint asbestos-containing materials? 

Yes. It is safe to paint Artexed walls and ceilings and even insulation board however you should never sand the materials nor use tools such as wallpaper scrapers on them. To prepare for painting simply wipe the material with a damp cloth to remove any dirt.

I have noticed some pieces of broken floor tile that I have been informed contain asbestos. Am I at risk?

No, even broken pieces of tile are extremely unlikely to release any asbestos fibres. If the tiles do contain asbestos, they need to be disposed of correctly so please contact us so we can arrange this for you.

How we deal with asbestos

We hold an asbestos register for properties where an asbestos survey has been completed and this register is continuously updated as we carry out further asbestos surveys to our housing stock. If there are improvements or major repair works planned for your home and we do not have any asbestos information on your property type, we will arrange a property assessment before the works take place. This may involve a full asbestos survey whereby samples are taken of any suspected asbestos-containing materials. We have a legal duty to protect against the health risks posed by asbestos being disturbed. We therefore need to know what asbestos-containing material may be in your home before starting any major works. If you do not allow the surveyor into your home, this could delay the works being undertaken. After the survey has been completed, if asbestos-containing material is found we will do one of the following:

• If the type, location and condition of the asbestos is considered a high risk, we will immediately arrange removal of the material.
• If the type, location and condition of the asbestos is considered a much lower risk, we may decide not to remove it. We will record its location and monitor its condition. Depending on its location we may also plan to remove it as part of a planned removal programme.

Your responsibilities

Please remember you must not make any changes to your property (excluding general decoration) without prior written consent from the Council. This also includes garages and out buildings. You must complete a fixture and fittings form available from our Customer Services Centres. Following receipt of your request to carry out improvements to your home, we will check our records to see if there are any known asbestos containing materials in the area you wish to alter. If we have no information on file, we will arrange to have the area inspected. You will then be notified if you can proceed with the works. If you carry out work, or allow others to do so on your behalf without our permission, you may be putting yourself and others at risk of asbestos exposure and you may also be liable for any costs incurred for dealing with any asbestos incidents. If you buy your property from us, then you will become responsible for any asbestos-containing materials in your home.

Asbestos in privately owned homes

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer asbestos surveying, analytical, removal or collection services for privately owned properties. This includes properties that have been previously purchased from the Council.

If you suspect you may have asbestos containing materials within your property, we would recommend you arrange for them to be sampled and tested by an asbestos surveyor. If you are unsure about the presence of asbestos and are planning refurbishment work, we would recommend you arrange for an asbestos survey to minimise the risk of disturbance. We would suggest you appoint the services of a UKAS Accredited surveyor or company to carry out such testing or surveying. Further guidance as well as assistance for finding a surveyor can be found here.

If you have confirmed the presence of asbestos containing materials within your home and require them to be removed, we would always recommend you appoint a licensed contractor to carry out such works. Whilst not all asbestos removals require a licensed contractor, the use of one should help ensure the people attending are suitably experienced and trained to carry out such works safely, as well as ensuring the materials are also disposed of correctly. A list of all licensed contractors can be found here.

If you choose to carry out DIY repairs or remove damaged asbestos materials yourself, make sure you wear the right protective equipment and follow safe working methods. For advice on doing this, please see the Asbestos Essentials. Any removed asbestos will need to be legally disposed of as hazardous waste. This should not be mixed with normal household waste. For further information, please contact Envirolink on 0345 2000 103.