Asbestos found in property

Littlebobo1981

The house we are looking to buy had a survey done today and they have found Asbestos in the loft, kitchen and fascia boards ..also potentially the ceiling( artex) ..

What does this mean to us, we already knew there were significant issues with the house ( rewire, new boiler , rads needed and windows/doors so have knocked a fair amount off the asking price but if this is going to result in more work what cost would that be to us ?

EachPenny

The asbestos in the loft would be a particular red flag to me.... do you know whether it is sheet material, or is it loose insulation? If the latter then removing it would be a far more difficult (and expensive) job than removing (say) an asbestos water tank.

HampshireH

May just be a redundant cement tank or flue in the loft - but your report should give more detail? If not you can get an asbestos survey done to verify if you are concerned.

Fascia boards and artex both very common - as are old tanks (or even ones in use). They can be wrapped and left in the loft (chances are they will be a nightmare to get out as some are installed before the smaller loft hatch it build in)

Agree with the post above re insulation. I would ask for that to be removed before by the owner before purchase if thats what it is as it won't be cheap - if it is it will also need to be fully insulated again.

PokerPlayer111

can i ask the age of the property?

Littlebobo1981

We haven’t got the actual survey back, I only know this as we had a walk round with the surveyor and it was mentioned that there was asbestos in the loft ...he did mention a tank in the loft but I only asked for cost of removal and whether that needs doing before we move ...neither of which he could answer (or didn’t want to) ...don’t want to hold up the sale but don’t want to be lumped with a load more hassle as we have enough to deal with as it is !

goodwithsaving

They might not have found it (surveyors don't carry testing equipment) and it may just be a "there might be asbestos" which you are interpreting as "this is definitely asbestos". Asbestos doesn't bother me. Get a company in to check it and quote.

Tank in the loft can be removed, but probably best left in situ.

Littlebobo1981

PokerPlayer111 wrote: »

can i ask the age of the property?

Property is around 45 years old ..1960’s house

PokerPlayer111

Littlebobo1981 wrote: »

Property is around 45 years old ..1960’s house

Thanks, its a subject that interests me a little. Sure others can help more, mean time yeah dont disturb it i guess then its no problem, not like its radioactive or anything right. edit: oh sorry you looking to buy, meh that might put me off a little personally but idk lets see what others say

Doozergirl

Tanks are generally left in situ. They are fine if left.

Asbestos fascias are actually great at the job they do. They too are safe left in situ. You shouldn’t have to change them. If they did need upgrading, I believe you can clad them but the ones Inhave come across have been as good as the day they went up and are just painted.

Artex, ditto, leave in situ. If you don’t like it, overboard it. This can be done by a competent plasterer with suitable training.

Kitchen - I can’t guess at. I presume the actual kitchen isn’t made of asbestos

ed67812

I'd get the survey back first. Doubt the surveyor has tested anything to be sure.

Be interested to know what is in the kitchen, possibly floor tiles, and the loft, likely an old tank.

There are different types of asbestos. The type, how it's been used, the condition of it, all make a big difference to how big an.issue it is. Most 1960s property will have some somewhere, even if it's hidden away.

Mutton_Geoff

Asbestos in the kitchen could be an old flue or the pad on the bottom of a stainless steel sink.

I had asbestos at my current house, mostly ceiling board. I had three quotes to remove it varying between £1,600 and £7,500. When I confronted the most expensive firm (who was recommended by my builder) they agreed to meet the lowest price provided it wasn’t insulation board. I sent a sample to an online lab (Pass UK Ltd) who were very competitive and confirmed it’s type so the job was done at the low price.

The variation in price confirmed the opportunists in the removal business, even the testing is full of expensive online firms.