Query re asbestos roof on extension

HappyG1rl

I have an asbestos roof on an outbuilding. Should I get it changed or is it safe?

Jonesya

Toots wrote: »

Last week the council have replaced it with ......a new corrugated asbestos roof.

As I understand it asbestos use was banned a few years back so that's unlikely.

Debt_Free_Chick

It's safer to leave it well alone than to disturb it.

The ban on asbestos only relates to new products - existing asbestos in good condition is not banned so there is no requirement to remove it.

I wouldn't have thought there would be a mortgage problem for asbestos on only a small proportion of the property and it shouldn't be a mortgage problem if the buyer is putting down a deposit. But lenders are becoming increasingly picky over a number of things.

Are you sure it contains asbestos? It might not. If the roof has been replaced since 1999 it won't contain asbestos. If you're not sure, your local Council should be able to advise you.

Here's a factsheet on asbestos in the home from City of London Council.

Debt_Free_Chick

Toots wrote: »

It is definitely asbestos - my mother immediately recognised it and the contractor confirmed it. He said there is no need to worry as it is only white asbestos.

I immediately noticed it was asbestos when I saw it too.

I've just found that my previous post is slightly incorrect in that there is not a total ban on ALL new asbestos products, which would explain Mum's new roof.

From Thurrock Council

"White (chrysotile) asbestos is the only type of asbestos which may still be marketed in the UK. It is most commonly found in asbestos cement products such as roofing tiles and profiled sheets. A ban on all the remaining uses of asbestos is currently being considered by the Government."

Jonesya

Debt_Free_Chick wrote: »

I've just found that my previous post is slightly incorrect in that there is not a total ban on ALL new asbestos products, which would explain Mum's new roof.

There is a total ban:

HSE_Website wrote:

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 came into force on 13 November 2006 (Asbestos Regulations - SI 2006/2739)
...
The Regulations prohibit the importation, supply and use of all forms of asbestos. They continue the ban introduced for blue and brown asbestos 1985 and for white asbestos in 1999. They also continue the ban the second-hand use of asbestos products such as asbestos cement sheets and asbestos boards and tiles; including panels which have been covered with paint or textured plaster containing asbestos.

Full document is on the HSE website:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/regulations.htm