Asbestos help!

[ChloeR81]

I’m exchanging on a house this week, meant to be completing in 2 weeks’ time. The house is currently empty.

It’s a 1960s house and the survey showed a disused asbestos-lined tank and flue in the loft space and the vendors agreed to remove it. It now transpires they don’t have any certification etc for the removal so I can only assume it might not have been done ‘properly’.

How worried should I be about the health hazard? Could there be asbestos dust throughout the property now? Can I move my furniture in before I get it tested? I’m really worried about it and moving my kids in when it could be hazardous but not sure what to do and how big a problem it is. We’re meant to be exchanging and moving so soon!

First things first: have they actually removed them or are they just saying they removed them? Ask for photos showing they have gone if you don't already have any.

Were the tank and flue in good condition? I would think that the chances of any asbestos fibres being released are small unless there was some sort of asbestos cladding. However, you hold the cards here - you can ask for samples to be tested, for example.

It is the law that certain types of asbestos have to be removed and disposed of by certified companies.

If your survey picked it up it is likely to be a condition of your mortgage, and documents will have to be handed over.

Get your conveyancing solicitor onto it.