Homebuyers survey

[stayfit]

Hi we found and liked a 1935 property in London. Finally one that ticks all boxes and in our budget. The home buyers survey has a generic statement which says: the property on this age may contain asbestos. I have spoken to surveyor to give me more information. I also spoke to estate agent and vendor and they claim that we don't have it and usually it's in Garage roofs. They also said that surveyors say such things to cover themselves. We don't have a garage in this property so that possibility is ruled out. Is it worth getting a further test? Would it be too risky to proceed with sale now? Many thanks in advance

Asbestos products were pretty common in houses up until it was finally banned in 1999.

Peter Coling, technical director at Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward Chartered Surveyors, estimates that 30% of asbestos is found in ceiling coatings, 15% in boiler flue pipes and ducts, and 15% in floor tiles. A further 15% is found in areas such as cold water storage tanks, insulation materials, eaves, gutters and rainwater pipes, while 10% is in cement panel ceilings, 10% in outbuildings and 5% in fire protection materials, for example on the underside of integral garage roofs and in cupboards enclosing boilers.

Source: www.theguardian.com/money/2011/may/01/asbestos-hidden-health-hazard

The vast majority of asbestos products are bonded like the corrugated asbestos-cement roofing that is still commonly seen that your vendors are talking about, or in soffits (our previous 1980s built house had that), and if the property has artex it may well contain asbestos. It is straightforward to test for, and in the majority of cases it is best managed by covering over and not disturbing.

See here too: www.aic.org.uk/