Asbestos

Nicki

Anyone know anything about the kinds of questions we should be asking in relation to asbestos?

We got the Property Information Form on the house we are buying back today and on the bit where it asks about correspondence with neighbours there is a reference to correspondence which the vendor has had concerning asbestos in the house we had wanted to buy. No more information is given.

What questions do I need to be asking, and should I be panicking and withdrawing fast at this point?

Snow_Dog

Probably best to ask your sol to contact their sol asking for clarification of that point, ie more details on the correspondence.

You can have an asbestos inspection done, have a look in the yellow pages, there are companies specialising in this. They will check everything down to the artex on the ceiling for traces of the stuff.

Jonbvn

When was the house built?

RIC's has some guidance.
http://www.rics.org/Management/Healthandsafety/Hazardoussubstances/Asbestos/asbestos_guide.htm

Also goverment has some more info.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/Planning/DoingWorkYourself/DG_10022562

Nicki

Jonbvn wrote: »

When was the house built?

RIC's has some guidance.
http://www.rics.org/Management/Healthandsafety/Hazardoussubstances/Asbestos/asbestos_guide.htm

Also goverment has some more info.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/Planning/DoingWorkYourself/DG_10022562

Thanks for the links, which were helpful.

Its a period house (Georgian) so the asbestos was clearly put in after the house was built, but at the moment have no idea when this was.

It sounds like I need to try to find out where in the house it actually is, and whether its in good condition as a first step, then possibly also an asbestos inspection.

Having said that, thinking about a resale, would anyone actually buy a house if they knew it had asbestos in, even if it was in good nick, or would be landing ourselves with an unsellable white elephant?

Jonbvn

You need to find out where exactly the asbestos is, and the extent. Contact your solicitor.

pcwilkins

Presumably the vendor is still alive so it can't be that bad.

Nicki

pcwilkins wrote: »

Presumably the vendor is still alive so it can't be that bad.

He's only lived there for a year though and problems usually manifest 20-30 years after exposure. Me and the kids still have 20-30 years left in us, I hope, so want to be sure. :rolleyes: Also need to think about how easy it would be to sell again if and when we need to move, which hopefully wouldn't be for a long time.

pcwilkins

Sorry, perhaps my last post was a little facetious. How about asking the vendor what the correspondence was? He may have had it checked out before he bought it and it would be silly to pay for it to be checked again.

Whatever you do, I would definitely say there is no need to panic and withdraw. It'll probably be fine.

Peter

Nicki

pcwilkins wrote: »

Sorry, perhaps my last post was a little facetious. How about asking the vendor what the correspondence was? He may have had it checked out before he bought it and it would be silly to pay for it to be checked again.

Whatever you do, I would definitely say there is no need to panic and withdraw. It'll probably be fine.

Peter

Thanks. I don't want to panic really, and am trying to be sensible about it. I only found out it may be an issue today though and don't have any other info to go on yet, nor any experience of this issue. I really want to put together a sensible and comprehensive list of questions to go back with, so that I absolutely know how the land lies, then decide what to do with the benefit of all the info.

It is a fabulous house, and we really do want to buy it, so are very keen to find a solution if we can. On the other hand, it is a big financial decision so don't want it to be the wrong one!

Snow_Dog

Its just another of those normal things that crop up during the house purchase process. The property information forms are great imo for this sort of thing.

Its not unusual for your solicitor to go back with a whole bunch of questions raised from the property information form. Its very important that you read through it yourself very closely looking not for things they have written, rather the things they have missed. EG disputes with neighbours, if they sound vague in their answer you can bet they've had a ruck with next door.

I would say there's no point in panicking but its difficult not to when its such a big financial and emotional commitment. Good luck anyway.