Asbestos myth busting

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Here are some common questions about asbestos:

  1. My house was built in the 1970’s. Could it contain asbestos? Yes, any property built before the year 2000 has the potential to contain asbestos.
  2. My house has asbestos, Artex. Why hasn’t it been removed? Asbestos is only dangerous if it’s damaged or disturbed. In the UK, up to 50% of households still contain asbestos.
  3. Why haven’t you removed the asbestos in my home? Asbestos is safest when left undisturbed. We have surveyed your home to identify asbestos items, and your property is reinspected every five years as part of the stock condition survey.
  4. I have a damaged ceiling that I think may contain asbestos. What should I do? Isolate the room and call us immediately on 0300 3300 900, and dial extension number 7325 when prompted.
  5. I have a health condition; will the asbestos in my home make it worse? No, asbestos-related diseases are caused by exposure to asbestos fibres and it can take 20 to 30 years after being exposed to asbestos before symptoms appear.

Our role in managing asbestos in your home:

  • The law requires us to undertake an asbestos survey on all homes built before 2000. We don’t need to carry out a survey if your home was built after this date.
  • These are carried out by our in-house surveyors, who provide information on the location and condition of the asbestos. We provide residents with a copy of these results.
  • We inspect communal areas yearly, such as our blocks of flats.
  • A reinspection survey may need to be carried out in your home, and we will contact you if this is the case.
  • If the survey identifies asbestos in poor condition, we will arrange to seal or remove it.
  • We may need to survey your home before refurbishment works occur. If so, we will discuss and arrange this with you if required.

We ask that you allow us into your home to conduct inspections or complete any necessary work.

Asbestos is a safe material if it remains undisturbed and sealed. If you wish to make an alteration to your home, you will need to complete a permission application by clicking here.

If you want to contact us about asbestos in your home, call our Asbestos team on 0300 3300 900, choosing options 2, 5 and 2 or dialling extension number 7325 when prompted.

You can find more information about asbestos here.

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