Tips Before Buying A House Deadly Asbestos Maybe Present by:David Cant

Do you have Asbestos in your Domestic home?

When buying or selling a house, or even contemplating renovation or DIY tasks, you should be fully aware of the potential harm ful risks posed by any deadly Asbestos-Containing materials that may be present.

If you are a buyer or seller, the presence of Asbestos-Containing material has the potential to substantially adversely affect the value of the property.

Did you know that over 70% of UK homes potentially contain asbestos in some form.

Increasing numbers of mortgage lenders and conveyance solicitors are advising prospective buyers to obtain Specialist Reports on Asbestos prior to exchange of contracts.

Although not covered by legislation, commissioning an Asbestos Survey is desirable, especially when considering the likely devaluation affect on the future price of the property.

Landlords have legal obligations under current legislation to identify and manage asbestos in the common parts of multi-occupation dwellings; failure to do so may lead to prosecution.

Veritas Consulting Safety Services is an independent company with specialist knowledge to undertake asbestos surveys. In most cases, the building surveyors who undertake pre-sale surveys do not have this specialist knowledge and their reports will usually carry a disclaimer in respect of asbestos.

So why is it important that potential property buyers know whether asbestos is present?

Because deadly Asbestos materials can be found in the following places.

Thermal & Acoustic insulation

Ceiling tiles

Decorative coatings such as artex

Stud walls & partitions

Thermo plastic floor tiles

Flue pipes & chimneys

Cement roofing, drainpipes

Electrical fuse boards & switch gear

Soffit boards

Toilet cisterns & water tanks

and more

So what are the Health risks from Asbestos?

DIY activities or building works which involve drilling, sanding, sawing or removal of any Asbestos-Containing Materials will almost certainly release asbestos fibres into the air.

If inhaled, asbestos fibres may be deposited in the airways and lung tissue which can cause irreversible scarring and render sections of the lungs unusable.

Asbestos in the home does not pose a health risk unless the material is broken, deteriorating, or disturbed in such a way that asbestos dust is produced.

So what are the Financial Risks?

The cost of employing the required Specialist Contractors licensed by the HSE to remove and dispose of Asbestos-Containing Materials is very high due to the strict legislative controls. It is vital therefore to determine the location, extent and type of Asbestos in the home prior to purchase or undertaking any refurbishment.

How can surveyors help?

For a fixed fee asbestos surveyors will undertake a comprehensive physical asbestos survey of the property and produce an Asbestos Survey Report in accordance with HSE Document MDHS100; they will include a detailed Material risk Assessment on any Asbestos material identified.

They will provide practical and impartial recommendations on any actions that may be necessary to ensure that you are not put at risk through exposure to deadly asbestos fibres.

Original source: The Health and Safety Blog

About the author

David Cant is a registered Asbestos Surveyor with over 10 years experience within the asbestos industry.

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