New builds, old houses & asbestos?

[housenet]

Since I left my parents I have always mainly lived in new build houses/apartments.

I have seen a lot of articles in the Daily Mail about people my age (early 30s) getting asbestos related cancer.
I had never really heard of asbestos until then.

I know asbestos was banned in 1999 but what about the houses built before then?

Surely the government should make people aware in older properties that there is an asbestos risk in their homes?

Me and DH are wanting to move back to be closer to family with the kids now and we are hoping for a new build mainly because of the asbesto risk in older properties.

DH thinks I’m being crazy and we should try get an older property because he thinks it’s better new builds.

AIBU?

You can get surveys that highlight asbestos if you’re concerned.

It’s not a given that all houses from that time will use it and if you don’t mess with it and disturb it, it’s not a health risk anyway.

I have seen a lot of articles in the Daily Mail about people my age (early 30s) getting asbestos related cancer.

Really? Are you seeing these articles organically or searching them out? Mesothelioma - associated with asbestos exposure and more common than normal round this way because so many people working in shipbuilding - is most common in the over 75 age group.

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/mesothelioma

It is not something I ever think about. Is anxiety an issue for you? And asbestos in properties is not a risk. Asbestos which is breaking up or deteriorating is a risk.

Hi
I had never really heard of asbestos until I read this article in Daily Mail.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-14330277/asbestos-school-Young-people-terminal-cancer-deadly-fibres-thousands-exposed.html

Yes I suffer from health anxiety.
And by disturbed would that mean something like drilling a hole in a wall?

The most recent article was a few days ago.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14559475/amp/Asbestos-hotspot-map-material-town-death.html

I think you need to go to the GP for your anxiety.

I think you need to speak to someone urgently about your anxiety which has hooked onto asbestos as its focus.

Because when you are so deep into anxiety about thinking drilling a hole in the wall will kill you, there is no point in posting any reassuring facts/figures.

Oh and that Daily Mail article is just mince. The reason that Glasgow probably has more asbestos related deaths than anywhere in the rest of the country is because during the 60s and 70s men were routinely exposed through their work in the shipyards, in an era before risks were fully understood and before Health and Safety legislation. These men are now in the 75+ age group and getting cancer.

IT IS BECAUSE OF THEIR OCCUPATION NOT THEIR HOUSES.

We've got asbestos in the artex ceilings our our house built in 1984. Just get a survey like we did. If it's there you can choose to get it professionally removed or plastered over.

Generally speaking walls aren’t made of asbestos. In a normal house it might be sheets used for garage roofs, artex ceilings or for boiler flues. But as I say, you can have surveys done that will highlight it.

You seem fixated without any real substance behind it. Have a look at photos of what asbestos in houses looks like and it might reassure you that houses generally aren’t riddled with it!

Garage roof and boiler flue was exactly where ours was. Fortunately we have a family friend whose day job is asbestos removal so he removed it for us! Have to say, having had a family friend who never worked in industry who died of mesothelioma due to exposure likely from their father’s work uniform, I was quite paranoid for a while but now it’s likely all been removed I don’t give it a second thought.

Thank you for the reassurance everyone.

@FrothyCothyIm sorry to hear about your friend, that’s awful.

We had asbestos from an old water tank in our loft when we moved into our house. Its safe as long as it isn't broken. In our case, the panel needed careful wrapping while wearing safety masks, then the council took it. (It was about 50cm squared).

Asbestos was banned in the UK in 1999, but many houses built before this still contain asbestos-containing materials (ACMs), particularly in insulation, roofing, and some ceilings or floor tiles. The presence in older homes is common but does not usually pose a health risk if in good condition and undisturbed.

New builds are constructed without asbestos and generally have lower risk. However, older homes with asbestos can be managed safely with proper knowledge, regular inspections, and professional advice—removal is only recommended if the asbestos is damaged or will be disturbed during renovation.

Government guidance and Health and Safety Executive advice recommend awareness but do not currently mandate widespread notification of asbestos presence in domestic properties. Buyers are encouraged to commission asbestos surveys when purchasing older homes to assess risks.

Choosing new builds primarily to avoid asbestos is understandable but not always necessary if one manages the property correctly. The Health and Safety Executive and Scopus Asbestos consultants can advise on safe management plans to protect your family.