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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

House with asbestos

45 replies

Crazypetlady · 07/10/2015 15:48

Hello , I am worrying again, as always.
My dm and df are going to rent a house that has asbestos in the cladding. It can't be mortgaged because of this. My df says it is safe, but I am not so sure. They can live where they choose but they expect me to take my young ds to visit. We visit them in their current house fairly often.
AIBU and worrying over nothing or am I right to keep my ds away?

This is more of a help than AIBU but wanted the traffic.

OP posts:

ncforthe100thtime · 07/10/2015 15:54

I think asbestos is ok if it's not tampered with ie by drilling/breaking up in some way.

HPsauciness · 07/10/2015 16:01

It depends how risky the asbestos is, I can't remember the scale that is used, but basically a lot of old properties have asbestos in the plaster which is on the lower side of risky, ranging right up to really a threat to health. I can't tell from what you have said here which it is.

It is true you shouldn't disturb it whatever.

Could they show you the documents relating to it? I had a mortgage on a property with very low level asbestos and also sold that property, so perhaps it is in the higher risk category?

VashtaNerada · 07/10/2015 16:02

It's probably fine but I'd do a bit of research to put your mind at rest. FIL died from aspestos-related cancer and it was fucking horrible, has made me a bit paranoid.

Original poster

Crazypetlady · 07/10/2015 16:06

Sorry to hear Vashta
It will cost thirty thousand pounds to be mortgageable apparently if that has any relevance.
I will ask about the papers.
Thanks

OP posts:

Sanch1 · 07/10/2015 16:06

As long as the fibres arent being released by the asbestos then it's fine, so no drilling, sanding it. If its extenal cladding then even with some fibre release it'll pretty quickly be dispersed in the atmosphere. If it's asbestos cement its pretty safe if not tampered with.

Unreasonablebetty · 07/10/2015 16:11

My DH is a builder who works with Asbestos quite regularly, he assures me that it's fine unless it's tampered with.
You'll be fine to visit.

GloGirl · 07/10/2015 16:13

I wouldn't buy a house I couldn't mortgage, you'd really struggle to sell it on.

NotSkinnyYet · 07/10/2015 16:20

We live in an ex-council house with asbestos in. We didn't know that when DH bought the house, wasn't raised by the building surveyor or anything. It's mainly in the built in cupboards and was brought to our attention when we had some work done internally a couple of years back. I'm constantly paranoid about it, but nothing we can do about it - can't afford to get it removed etc. It's in good condition and the cupboards are essentially meant to be wardrobes & we have to use them as no other storage available. The boards make up part of walls (as part of the cupboards) so there isn't any avoiding them. Like I say though, they're in good condition and as I was told as long as you don't faff about with them there shouldn't be a problem

ToriaPumpkin · 07/10/2015 16:29

We've got a mortgage on a property with asbestos insulation in the roof and garage. It was raised in the home report but isn't an issue unless disturbed so I'm really not that fussed about it. I've a friend who's father died of asbestosis but even he's not concerned about being in our house, he's even been in our roof space when helping DH fix a leaky pipe.

Naicehamshop · 07/10/2015 16:38

My house has some asbestos just under the roof (soffits???) and I believe that this is quite common for 1960's/70's houses. We have been assured that it's fine as long as we don't drill into it.

TheCraicDealer · 07/10/2015 16:41

They aren't buying it, they're renting.

What Sanch says. As long as it's in good condition and it's external this would be a non-issue for me.

Sofarris · 07/10/2015 16:56

I have to agree with ncforthe100thtime. Asbestos won't cause any problems unless it is disturbed.

We only found out we had Asbestos when we had a leaky pipe in our old house, it brought the ceiling down and we had to have men in wearing space suits to take out all the old Asbestos.

Asbestos is always going to end up causing problems long term but, it will be okay for you and DS to visit.

NotMeNotYouNotAnyone · 07/10/2015 17:00

Yabu not to visit. As long as your DS doesn't start drilling into the cladding, he'll be fine. Your parents presumably aren't stupid and will have checked out the risks.

Many schools built in the middle of last century have or had asbestos. We all survived.

Original poster

Crazypetlady · 07/10/2015 17:08

My parents won't check the risks they aren't very responsible. That's why I was asking Notme. Now I know there isn't a risk I am happy to take him with me.
Thanks for the replies/

OP posts:

sproketmx · 07/10/2015 18:11

Depends on the kind of asbestos. If its white asbestos it not dangerous unless disturbed, if it's blue ir brown that's different. My house is full of the stuff. We removed most of it ourselves too

lalalonglegs · 07/10/2015 19:15

Gosh, sproketmx, how did you manage that?

solarpoweredtorch · 07/10/2015 19:45

Ive got asbestos in my house- seeing as it was built in 1973 I would be more surprised if it didnt.
Its in the ceilings, back porch ceiling (where it is visible) and in the soffits.

As long as its not disturbed its fine.

CasperGutman · 07/10/2015 21:51

Gosh, if you get this panicky about visiting a house with some asbestos, how do you cope with visiting any shops, schools, sports centres, offices, cinemas, theatres etc etc built during most of the 20th century?

Original poster

Crazypetlady · 07/10/2015 22:45

Casper I don't know much about it hence me asking.

OP posts:

TheCatsMother99 · 07/10/2015 23:13

Almost every home that was built prior to 1999 has asbestos in it in varying degrees. Provided it's not damaged or tampered with it's fine.

Marynary · 07/10/2015 23:29

A lot of buildings have asbestos in them. I think it is fine as long as you don't need to tamper with anything. If you do, it is an expensive, specialist job.

sproketmx · 08/10/2015 01:44

Crowbar couldn't afford specialist removal so had no choice. Figured if we do get cancer it will be the fact we both smoked from about 12 till about 24 and occasionally still now when I don't have e liquids it be that and not the asbestos.

I still have it in the bathroom and kitchen though. It was the fire place and cladding we took out. If yiu live in an ex council house the chances are you have it. It was used for its fire retardant properties

VashtaNerada · 08/10/2015 05:02

You're very brave sproketmx but please nobody else do that!

sleepyelectricsheep · 08/10/2015 05:19

sproketmx it is very, very irresponsible to take out asbestos yourself.

Whether you smoked or not has nothing to do with the risk, that's a bogus way of thinking. Please educate yourself about it before doing anything else with it.

We has asbestos in our house and had it removed professionally by people who took considerable precautions before disturbing it. Hopefully you have been lucky, but removing it yourself is incredibly risky, please don't do it again.

wonkylegs · 08/10/2015 05:31

Actually depending on the type of asbestos and amount of work (and a few other factors) you can sometimes remove asbestos yourself. If the work is what they call 'non licenceable work' , you take the appropriate precautions and you dispose of it in the proper way it is perfectly legal and safe for non asbestos contractors to remove including DIYers. HSE produce a lot of clear guidance on the matter - firstly you have to work out whether or not it's licenceable work.

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