Buying a house and Asbestos

aman789

Hi All,

I'm FTB in a process of buying a house and homebuyers report has now come back with the following;

The fascia boards and soffit boards are a mixture PVC and asbestos. The soffit
boards are thought to contain asbestos which may represent a health risk. You
should take care when carrying out repairs, maintenance or removal.

Under the risk to people section it says Asbestos - removal of soffit boards to property where damaged. Specialist advice required

The property has been valued at the price accepted and our accepted offer is already 5k less than the asking price.

Is the above something we should be concerned about and do I need to negotiate the price further for the asbestos removal?

The house was built in 1950.

Thanks

[Deleted User]

No.

Just don't go licking them and you'll be fine.

G_M

the asbestos is outside in the soffits, at roof height. You are unlikely to be up there disturbing them any time soon!


There is only a risk "when carrying out repairs, maintenance or removal."

Are you likely to do any of that? When and why?


Enjoy your new home!

ed67812

Soffit boards are not outside. By definition they are the board that separate inside from outside so are accessible from the roof space internally.

Ours are likely to contain it too (60s house) but I don't.intend to remove or replace it. Nor would I climb up and screw something into it.

The thing I've always thought is asbestos could be anywhere, hidden away. The only way to avoid it is buy a house from this century. And even then you'll not avoid the asbestos fibres all around in background air. I personally wouldn't buy a house with any asbestos containing materials in poor condition (ie. Broken and crumbling).

There could well be other asbestos products and your home buyers report will state it is not an asbestos survey in a generic statement somewhere. An asbestos survey would tell you more but unless your vendor is very accommodating you'll not be able to have intrusive tests to see what's hidden.

G_M

ed67812 wrote: »

Soffit boards are not outside. By definition they are the board that separate inside from outside so are accessible from the roof space internally.

.

Yeah, I too am pedantic here from time to time!


The OP is just as likely to messing around with the soffits from inside his attic as he is to be climbing up a ladder to reach them from outside....


the advice doesn't change.

Davesnave

aman789 wrote: »

The property has been valued at the price accepted and our accepted offer is already 5k less than the asking price.

Is the above something we should be concerned about and do I need to negotiate the price further for the asbestos removal?

Your surveyor thinks the property is worth what you are paying with the current soffits in situ.

So on what grounds would you ask the current owner to grant a further reduction? They've lived with these soffits, probably for some years, without feeling the need to have them replaced. It's therefore unlikely they'll share your enthusiasm for replacement due to the minimal risk described.

Also, you have no proof that asbestos is present, without lab testing of the material which is "thought to contain" it. While not hugely expensive, this would be something you'd need to arrange and fund yourself.

SG27

Any house from about 1940 to 1995 is likely to have asbestos. Our survey mentioned it possibly in soffits, artex and the water tanks. We are renovating the property so any we find we will just block in.

aman789

Thanks all for advice. The current vendors lived there for 40 odd years. I guess nothing to worry about as long as we leave it alone.

SG27

aman789 wrote: »

Thanks all for advice. The current vendors lived there for 40 odd years. I guess nothing to worry about as long as we leave it alone.

Similar to my purchase vendors been there since 1970s. It may be expensive if asbestos is damaged and you have to get a specialist in to remove it. But thats the risk you take with any house. Asbestos is actually great stuff, long lasting doesnt deteriorate easily great thermal properties. Just a shame it kills people!