Many homes in the UK have asbestos in them, but as long as it’s in good condition and undisturbed, there’s no need for any concern.
Why is asbestos in so many homes?
Before we understood the risks of using asbestos, it was popular in the housebuilding industry because of its many good qualities, like being strong, durable, and resistant to heat, fire and corroding. It was often used in fittings like roof sheets, cladding, radiators, panels and pipes.
It was banned in the 1980s, and action has been taken to ban the import, sale and reuse of asbestos.
Do I need to be worried about asbestos in my home?
Asbestos is not dangerous as long as it is not damaged and is properly sealed, or it is in a place where it cannot be easily disturbed.
However, if you think you may have asbestos in your home that has been damaged or disturbed, or the protective coating is peeling away, please phone us right away on 0345 678 0555.
If you have any questions or concerns about asbestos, please contact us via the form on our Contact us page, or speak to your housing officer.
Absestos risks and rules
Please phone us immediately on 0345 678 0555 if you’re concerned that:
- asbestos-containing materials have been damaged or disturbed
- the protective coatings or sealants on asbestos are peeling or breaking off
- special warning labels have been removed in communal areas
- surface of asbestos cement-based products such as guttering and shed roofs are damaged or eroded
Remember, never:
- damage, remove or work on materials containing asbestos
- break up large pieces of materials that you think contain asbestos
- drill, sand or scrape anything you think has asbestos in it
- jet wash or clean asbestos cement products like sheds or garage roofs.
- remove textured coatings from ceilings as they may contain asbestos
- wash any areas of flaking paint before repainting as they may contain asbestos
What is Accent doing about asbestos?
Our policy is to leave asbestos where it is unless it’s in poor condition, likely to be disturbed, or can be removed as part of a repair, improvement or alteration. This is in line with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and the government's Health and Safety Executive Guidance.
We must legally record information about asbestos in the communal areas of the buildings we own. Right now, we’re working with asbestos specialists to survey all homes built before 2000 for asbestos for our asbestos register.
If we need to do an asbestos survey on your home, we’ll have our specialist get in touch by post or phone to set up a time to do it. Afterwards, we’ll let you know if they found asbestos, what you should do if so, and how to monitor it.
We will also tell you whether or not the asbestos needs to be removed or just made safe. If it needs to be removed, we will explain to you how it will be done.
Can I do DIY on my home if it has asbestos?
You may still be able to carry out home improvements if your home has asbestos, but you need to let us know first.
This is because your improvements might increase the asbestos risk, so we’ll need to make sure you comply with safety regulations and use specialist licensed contractors.
For instance, if you want to remove old floor tiles or linoleum which you think contain asbestos, we’ll advise your contractor to leave them in place and lay your new floor coverings directly over them and use a safer attachment method.
Regardless of whether or not your home has asbestos, you’ll still need to get our permission before you carry out any work to your home.
Asbestos survey
Before starting any DIY in your home, it’s essential to check if we’ve carried out an asbestos survey. This will provide details on whether asbestos is present, its location, and the necessary precautions you should take before beginning any work.
If you’d like a digital copy of the asbestos survey for your home, please submit your contact details using the form below.
Remember: It's crucial to review your survey before doing any DIY. If asbestos is found, you’ll need to know where it is and how to handle it safely before proceeding.
