Asbestos – overcoming it in your new home

We've talked about asbestos before, what it is and what your surveyor will be looking for when you've appointed them to check over the structural integrity of a home you are planning to buy.

While it is a nasty substance that was once hailed as a miracle material because of its strength and fire- and chemical-resistant properties, it is now known to be the cause of some horrible diseases, including cancers and asbestosis of the lungs.

For this reason, it is essential that any concerns regarding the existence of asbestos be addressed as quickly as possible.

But is the possibility of the presence of asbestos a deal-breaker on buying a new home?

As part of the process of a detailed survey, your appointed chartered surveyor will rigorously check the property over, looking for problems and faults - but equally looking for areas with no issues, too. For example, while the electrical system might have been recently overhauled to bring it up to current standards, the chimney stack might be suffering from spalling or loose mortar.

When it comes to the question of asbestos, though, your surveyor will only investigate to certain level - because of the known hazards to health connected with asbestos, they will not move or disrupt the area where the asbestos might be to prevent any possible dust and fibres becoming airborne.

Instead, they will note the potential existence of asbestos and where it can be found, with a recommendation that further analysis and investigation be carried out to verify that it is (or is not) asbestos and, if it is, the type of asbestos since this will direct the rectification that needs to happen.

Of course, the concern is there until it can be categorically tested and confirmed to be asbestos or not, which might raise concerns and misgivings as to whether the property is the right one for you.

One of the problems with querying whether asbestos is present or not is that getting experts in to test it can be a time-consuming and expensive business.

The good news, though, is that asbestos testing kits can be bought for a few pounds online. Making sure you choose a reputable kit (take advice from your surveyor if you are unsure), and ensuring you follow the specific directions exactly, including wearing all the protective gear, you can take suitable samples.

When you get the kit, you register it online to get an identification code, which should appear on the bagged-up samples.

Each of these samples should be double-bagged and sealed securely in a posting bag (all of which will be provided as part of the kit), writing the details of location in the home and the identification code on the outside.

Sending these off to the company's laboratory, they will test each sample and verify whether it is asbestos and, if it is, which type (that is, white, blue or brown asbestos) - this is important information for removal purposes because of the methods that need to be employed. 

It's also important to understand the location since the removal process may need more detailed planning - for instance, where the asbestos is backing a boiler unit, a registered gas engineer will be required to remove the boiler unit to allow access to the asbestos for complete removal.

You'll then receive an email that tells you the findings: if it is asbestos, they'll provide all of the information you need to take the removal process further; if it is not asbestos, you'll received a certificate PDF to confirm this, which can be used for any future work carried out in the affected areas.

If it is asbestos, you can then look at bringing in a specialised removal company to quote on the cost of its removal. This will be a powerful way to enter renegotiations on the asking price to help cover part or all of the cost.

And, if you are the seller, and if you have taken the steps and the company verifies that it is not asbestos, you have the validation certificate that can be passed to your conveyancing solicitor to be added to the documentation for your putative buyer.

For the small cost of a test kit, you can take a lot of worry from the homebuying process - and the selling your home, too.

Concerned about the existence of asbestos in the home you are looking to buy? Thinking that the cost of sorting potential asbestos existence out will prevent you from going ahead with buying the home? Looking for clarification on the next steps?

You'll want to get a professional assessment of any existing problems and what the remedial effort and cost will be. 

At Surveyor Local, we only work with chartered surveyors who are members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, ensuring the survey you get is always professionally delivered.

They will work hard to identify all kinds of problems, including the impact of prior flooding on the structure of the property.

Where a survey does reveal any issues with a property, the buyer is then armed with knowledge that can allow them either to renegotiate the price, have the seller carry out the repairs or pull out of the purchase altogether.

That's where it is really worth contacting Surveyor Local.

Call  to get your no-obligation survey quote started, or to discuss your concerns with the acquisition of your planned property.

Or you can get a quick quote, using Surveyor Local's easy-to-use quote generator. Simply input your name, postcode, email address, phone number and an approximate value of the property (usually the agreed price), and we'll give you an instant quote for the work (with an email copy). 

We'll do the rest once you confirm your acceptance of the quote.