Selling but asbestos in artex. Advice requried ASAP

poppysarah

Charis wrote: »

I hear plasterboard has a low level radioactive content too

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7686530.stm
Xrays from selotape.

g_fella

Well I thought I better return and tell you what's happened. Where did I get to ?

Oh yeah, terrorists...

Well, I never did get to see the full report for the testing of asbestos in my artex.
My buyer didnt make a decision by the Monday lunchtime deadline, although he did request to see the property again on Monday afternoon (So close to telling him to forget it). My EA met him (and his boss ??!?) at my property, asked some questions about when was the last time the windows were painted on the outside, and whether there was a sinking fund for paying for work on the block (which of course there is). My EA explained there was and that the solicitor would confirm all details of accounts etc IF WE EVER GOT THAT FAR !!! And they left without making a decision yet again.

Anyway, Tuesday morning I was just waiting for the call from my estate agent, half expecting him to request another price drop (which he wouldnt have got), but my buyer had phoned him very early, unprompted to say that he would continue at my lowered price. :T

I'm in 2 minds about the whole thing... annoyed with myself for dropping my price when I dont think his issues were anything to do with me. But also relieved that we could finally get on with things. I immediately phoned the EA that we are buying from to see if I could pass this price drop up the chain... but no can do, people at the top say no.

So today, I called my mortgage company to give them all the details of the house we are buying (we had already given them all the other info, just not the address or final price), arranged for the survey (should be booked in late this week, early next), and we are sending a whole heap of info off to the solicitors tomorrow.

Just hope my buyer has done the same... when I hear that he has finally arranged his survey on this property I know we are fully all systems go. Plenty can go wrong yet, but fingers crossed everything goes smoothly.

Cheers for all your help/advice, even managed the odd smile amongst all the grinding of teeth. :beer:

Doozergirl

Ah well, take the lightbulbs and door handles with you when you go. At least you might get to move house now!

timeportal

I may be a little late in responding to this thread but will give you some info.

I have worked in the asbestos industry for some 15 years now a carry out testing, analysis and surveying on a daily basis.

Asbestos was used in textured coatings (including but not restricted to Artex) until 1985. The removal of artex used to be "licensable" meaning that the hse needed informing of its removal and a licensed removal contractor had to be used but this has since been removed from the regs and no longer requires such measures.
ANY asbestos product is safe unless disturbed, asbestos is only a danger an an airbourne fibre, not as part of a product.There would be no need to remove all of the artex just to install lights, locallised removal would be more than sufficient, however it is usually easier, quicker and cheaper to remove the ceiling itself rather than remove the artex seperately.

there should have been a number of samples taken from your property as the asbestos content within artex is not of uniform content (in otherwords it is entirely possible the same room could have 5 samples taken from different sections and only 1 of these have asbestos in it)

If you have any specific questions or if you do ever do get the report and want an opinion on it feel free to message me

g_fella

Cheers for the info timeportal, but things have moved on and have been resolved (for now).

Interesting you say they should have taken multiple samples, as they didnt. They took 1 sample from a cupboard in the hallway. To be fair, it was the one place that you wouldnt notice the sample has been taken as the door to the cupboard is always shut.

Basically your post confirms all my thoughts. As it stands my property is safe as houses (or flats in this instance), and that he was trying it on to get money off. It worked to a degree as I did drop my price for him (but not the £8k he was claiming), but now I am just happy this is resolved and me and my GF can get on with the process of buying our new house.

I'm fairly certain that the house we are buying will also have asbestos in the artex (built early 70's), but as you confirmed it's safe as long as we leave it where it is, and believe me I have no intention of moving it. Still I guess I could use this sneaky underhand tactic myself when get closer to exchange (I wont of course)